In 2022, the residents of Brooklyn\u2019s 8th Municipal Court District \u2013 which encompasses the southern third of the borough — elected Brian L. Gotlieb to the Civil Court bench. Since then, he has become a familiar and steady presence on the bench and in Brooklyn\u2019s legal community.<\/p>\n
Beyond his robe and gavel, Gotlieb is recognized as one of Brooklyn\u2019s up-and-coming judges. He has earned respect for his judicial acumen, temperament and
\ndeep community ties.<\/p>\n
Former longtime New York State Assemblywoman and District Leader from Brooklyn\u2019s 56th <\/sup>Assembly District, Annette Robinson stated, \u201cBrian is a caring and committed man who\u2019s been deeply involved throughout Brooklyn, not just in one neighborhood but across different districts. He\u2019s always shown up, participated, and remained dedicated to the community, even before he was on the bench. He\u2019s a truly decent human being.\u201d\u00a0 Robinson added, \u201cI believed in him so much that I was honored to give the prayer at his swearing-in ceremony. It\u2019s Brian Gotlieb\u2019s character and his borough-wide community involvement that makes him a great candidate to move up to Kings County Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in Philadelphia, PA, and raised in Brooklyn, Gotlieb, a forty-year resident of Coney Island, credits his late mother with teaching him the importance of helping others and community service.<\/p>\n A proud graduate of Midwood High School in Brooklyn, Judge Gotlieb earned his undergraduate degree from New York University, a graduate degree from the University of Florida, and his Juris Doctor (law degree) from New York Law School.<\/p>\n Judge Gotlieb\u2019s judicial philosophy, woven together from decades of community service, civic engagement, and legal experience, is focused on the ideals of preparation, fairness, consistency, and respect. With a personal and professional career built on service, many see Judge Gotlieb\u2019s path pointing toward a seat on the Kings County Supreme Court bench as his next step. This is a notable prospect as the bench has seen a significant rise in female jurists, leaving Judge Gotlieb among the few men in line for potential elevation.<\/p>\n Former State Committeewoman from Brooklyn\u2019s 44th Assembly District, Lori Citron-Knipel, stated, \u201cI first met Judge Gotlieb more than forty-five years ago, when he was in elementary school. Judge Gotlieb has an excellent demeanor. He has a lot of patience and attentively listens to all sides. He has a wonderful sense of compassion and fairness and works with and treats all people with the same respect and kindness.\u00a0 Given the opportunity, I believe Judge Gotlieb would make an excellent candidate for Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Gotlieb\u2019s legal career began in the demanding inner workings of New York\u2019s court system, rather than the spotlight. As an associate attorney with various law firms for nearly a decade and a half, Judge Gotlieb primarily represented clients who were hurt in accidents caused by the negligence of others.<\/p>\n He then served as the Principal Court Attorney to the Hon. Joy F. Campanelli in Civil Court, Richmond County. In this role, he helped craft policies that provided members of the public with greater access to the court\u2019s resources \u2014 work that was particularly crucial during the pandemic\u2019s disruption of court operations.<\/p>\n Later, as Justice Campanelli\u2019s Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court, Kings County, he gained firsthand experience in managing heavy case inventories and complex jury trials.\u00a0 That experience would prove to be invaluable once he took the bench himself.<\/p>\n Ask Judge Gotlieb what drives his work, and his answer is clear: preparation, fairness, consistency, and respect.<\/p>\n He insists that every litigant, whether represented by counsel or navigating the system alone, be heard and respected. He makes it a priority to explain courtroom procedures to those in his courtroom. This helps litigants understand how their cases will be handled, and that each case will be decided solely on the merits and the applicable law, without bias or favoritism.<\/p>\n Describing a principle that has become the cornerstone of his approach on the bench, Judge Gotlieb says, \u201cI believe that it is crucial for every litigant to have the chance to fully present their case and leave the courtroom knowing that they were genuinely heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge Gotlieb\u2019s influence doesn\u2019t end at the door of his courtroom. He represents Kings County on the citywide Civil Court Streamlining Committee. The Committee primarily focuses on streamlining the case management process in the Civil Court\u2019s circuit parts and drafting new citywide forms for use throughout the City of New York. He has also served as the Chair of the Civil Kings Special 2 Committee and Co-Chair of the Civil Kings Trial Committee. These committees are focused on providing guidance and assistance to colleagues presiding in Special 2 (Self Represented Part) and trials. They also focus on finding ways to increase litigants\u2019 ability to access and secure information and resources from the courthouse, streamline, and bring uniformity to the litigation process, and facilitate communication between litigants and the court.\u00a0 In addition to presiding over his own docket, he frequently serves as a mentor for colleagues who often turn to him for advice. This reflects the respect he has earned from his peers.<\/p>\n Long before he wore judicial robes, Brian L. Gotlieb was a visible figure in Brooklyn\u2019s civic landscape.<\/p>\n Judge Gotlieb\u2019s commitment to the community and helping others has been an integral part of who he has been since childhood. Gotlieb\u2019s late mother, Myrna Helene Gotlieb, who passed away on his birthday in 1993, taught him the importance of community and paying it forward. Putting those lessons into practice, Judge Gotlieb has been actively involved in various religious, and civic\/community organizations throughout his life.<\/p>\n Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, from Brooklyn’s 43rd Councilmanic District, told NYCPolitics.com, “I have known Brian Gotlieb for more than ten years and I think that he is a great and well deserving candidate for the Supreme Court bench. Judge Gotlieb is well known throughout my district and all of Brooklyn for his leadership and service to the community.\u00a0 He is thoughtful, experienced, honest, and treats everyone fairly and with respect.\u00a0 Judge Gotlieb has a deep understanding of the law, makes sure that all litigants who come before him are heard and treated with respect, and has a proven track record of working with and helping others without precondition or bias.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Motivated by the lessons he learned from his mother about the importance of community, he founded Shorefront Toys for Tots in her memory in 1995. As President of the organization from 1995 through 2022, Gotlieb oversaw the distribution of gifts to more than 50,000 children throughout Brooklyn during the EID, Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa holiday seasons. Gotlieb and the organization also sponsored multiple child safety, back to school, and reading programs throughout Brooklyn. This included neighborhoods such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, Coney Island, East New York, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Sunset Park.<\/p>\n Elected to Community School Board 21 in 1999, Judge Gotlieb focused on the issues of child safety and providing our children with a learning environment conducive to maximizing their potential. He worked with Congressman Anthony D. Weiner to secure a $4.96 million Magnet School Grant for District 21\u2019s students; led the fight to provide District 21\u2019s schools with additional school safety officers and crossing guards; hosted a series of Child Safety Programs; and initiated district-wide reading programs with the Brooklyn Cyclones and Deno\u2019s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.<\/p>\n Appointed to Community Board 13 in 1999, Judge Gotlieb served as the Board\u2019s Chairman from 2002 through 2006, and as a Board Member through 2022. He created the Board\u2019s Economic Development and Affordable Housing Committees, fought to make sure that area beaches were fully staffed with lifeguards, and earned a reputation and praise for fairness and an even-handed approach.<\/p>\n As Chairman of the Board\u2019s Education, Library and Youth Services Committee from 2008 through 2019, Judge Gotlieb addressed the issues of the post Sandy renovation and restoration of our community\u2019s libraries and schools; job training for community residents; charter schools; co-location of charter and public schools; the future of John Dewey High School; the re-zoning of Community School District 21; school funding; mayoral control of our public schools; and the effects of PCBs in public schools.<\/p>\n Gotlieb also served as a Board Member of his synagogue, Temple Beth Abraham, and provided free classes to assist those preparing to take the New York State Notary Public Exam.<\/p>\n His long list of community service awards reflects the breadth of his involvement across Brooklyn\u2019s civic, educational, and neighborhood groups.<\/p>\n Judge Gotlieb is well known and praised for developing and implementing initiatives aimed at building relationships and morale.<\/p>\n To facilitate an exchange of ideas and foster a sense of camaraderie, Judge Gotlieb initiated a series of \u201cpotluck\u201d breakfasts that he regularly hosts in his chambers. He has organized and joined colleagues in collecting and donating dental supplies to pediatric dental clinics at hospitals throughout Brooklyn. He has also coordinated outings to multiple Brooklyn Cyclones games in Coney Island.<\/p>\n He has joined with colleagues to host school groups at the courthouse to expose youth to the workings of the legal system. Through their participation, students learn about possible careers and discover that there is more to a courthouse than judges and attorneys or what they see on television or in movies.<\/p>\n These programs, large or small, speak volumes about a judge who sees his role as extending beyond court calendars and rulings.<\/p>\n With his extensive experience, community ties, and leadership within the court system, Judge Gotlieb has built a reputation that makes him a strong candidate for future opportunities, including possible service on the Kings County Supreme Court. In a judiciary increasingly shaped by new faces, he is regarded by many as someone whose background and dedication could serve Brooklyn well in higher judicial roles.<\/p>\n Council Member Zhuang added, “Judge Gotlieb truly has a golden heart.\u00a0 When it comes to helping others, his patience and good judgment, inside and outside of the courtroom, have made a real difference for the people of Brooklyn.\u00a0 I have no doubt that he will continue to make us proud as a member of the Supreme Court bench and ask everyone to join me in supporting his candidacy.”<\/p>\n As he continues serving on the Civil Court bench, Judge Gotlieb remains focused on ensuring that justice in Brooklyn is fair, respectful, and accessible to all; values that will guide him wherever his judicial path may lead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 2022, the residents of Brooklyn\u2019s 8th Municipal Court District \u2013 which encompasses the southern third of the borough — elected Brian L. Gotlieb to the Civil Court bench. Since […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5887,"featured_media":3200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,137,3],"tags":[166,164,165,44],"class_list":["post-3199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-judicial","category-local-nyc-politics","tag-brian-gotlieb","tag-brooklyn-judicial","tag-kings-county-courts","tag-nyc-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nFrom in Front of the Bench to Leading It<\/b><\/h2>\n
A Judicial Philosophy of Fairness and Equity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A Broader Role in the Courts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Deep Roots in Brooklyn Community Life
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nBridging the Courtroom and the Community
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\nLooking Toward Supreme Court<\/strong><\/h2>\n