Articles

Profile of the Hon. Janice A. Taylor

by Michael Goldsmith

Civil Court Judge Janice A. Taylor traded in her Gospel robes for judicial robes when she was elected to the Civil Court in 1994. After the November election, at the time of the publication of this article, she may also have been elected Justice of the New York Supreme Court for the County of Queens.

Judge Taylor is a soft spoken woman with a gentle demeanor, and a sweet, soothing voice. She is the youngest child and only daughter of Avis Griffin Taylor and Walter Earl Taylor. She had two older brothers who are deceased. Walter Earl Taylor was a Train Master for the Transit Authority, and served as a Hearing Officer in employee disciplinary hearings. Her mother, Avis Griffin Taylor, graduated from Pratt University with a degree in Costume Design and Dressmaking, and later owned and operated a successful dress making business. She later went on to teach reading to children for whom english was a second language.

Judge Taylor was born in Brooklyn, and has lived in Queens since the age of four. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science from the College of William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Judge Taylor decided to pursue a career in law because she thought it would "provide numerous career opportunities by opening a lot of doors" and "would enable me to become self employed." She graduated from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo School of Law in 1978, and was admitted to the bar the following March. In law school, Judge Taylor served as an officer in the Black Law Students Association. While in College and Law School, the future Judge organized and sang in Gospel choirs.

The first door that opened for the newly admitted young attorney was at the New York City Transit Authority where she was an Attorney and Associate Attorney from 1978 to 1986. During that time, Judge Taylor litigated labor/employment and contract law cases. She also served as Secretary of the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority.

From 1986 to 1987, Judge Taylor, with her experience in labor law, served as Assistant General Counsel with D.C.37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO.

In 1987, Judge Taylor herself opened the doors to her own private practice. She engaged generally in a civil practice, concentrating in the areas of labor/employment law, civil rights, family law, contracts, real estate, estates, and entertainment law. Her notable clients included legendary jazz percussionist, Max Roach, who happens to be the Judge's cousin. During that period, Judge Taylor also had the distinction of being appointed by the Appellate Division, 2nd Dept., as the first female Referee in Conservatorship in Queens County.

In 1994, Judge Taylor became only the second African-American Female to be elected to the Civil Court in Queens County. Judge Taylor enjoys the challenges presented in her judicial career. When interviewed by this reporter, Judge Taylor was presiding in Small Claims Court. "Small Claims Court has many interesting cases," said the Judge. She recalled one case wherein the claimant was suing for psychological damages to her dog, that was bitten by a neighbor's dog. "The claimant contended that her dog was on valium and was afraid of noises after the biting incident." Judge Taylor got a preview of the Supreme court during her tenure in Queens Civil Court and temporary assignment at the Brooklyn Civil Court. There she presided over the trials of cases that were transferred to the Civil Court from the Supreme Court pursuant to section 325 (d) of the CPLR. "It was a great learning experience," said the Judge.

On November 4, 1997, Judge Taylor will attempt to open yet another door, that to the Supreme Court. She is the candidate for the Supreme Court on the Democratic, Republican and Liberal parties. If elected, she will miss out presiding at the brand new Civil Court House. "I've been told that the judge's chambers are beautiful," said the Judge.

Judge Taylor is extremely active in professional organizations. She was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at the St. John's University College of Business Administration. She is currently Vice President of he Board of the Association of Civil Court Judges of the City of New York. She recently served as the Anti-Bias Representative for the Office of Court Administration. Judge Taylor was a Board Member of the Queens County Women's Bar Association from 1991 to 1995, and was Secretary and Member of the Network of Bar Leaders from 1986 to 1989. She also was President of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association from 1985 to 1988, after serving as Vice President for the previous year. She has served on the Board of that organization from 1982 to the present.

Judge Taylor also enjoys performing service to the community. From 1990 to 1994, she served as a Board Member and Secretary for the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, Inc., which "manages five senior citizen centers in the Jamaica area, and does a lot of good work in helping seniors perform their daily routines. The Program provides recreation, career training, education and transportation for the seniors," said the Judge.

Judge Taylor served as the Legal Redress Chair and Attorney for the Jamaica Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. from 1984 to 1986 and 1987 to 1990. In the wake of the Howard Beach incident, Judge Taylor was the legal counsel to the Concerned Citizens of Southeast Queens, an organization that was formed to improve communications between the residents of Howard Beach and Southeast Queens.

Other organizations Judge Taylor participated in are the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club, and the United For Progress Democratic Club, both in which she served as a Board Member from 1989 to 1994 and 1992 to 1994, respectively. Judge Taylor is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Sorority. She is also a member of the Greater Queens Chapter of the Links, Inc., and of the Top Ladies of Distinctions, Queens Empire Chapter. Both of those community based organizations work with youth and senior citizens.

Judge Taylor is very active in her church. She is a Deaconess at the Concord Baptist Church of Christ, and until her election to the bench, was a pro bono legal services provider at the church.

Judge Taylor's hobbies include travel and going to the movies. She has visited Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and most of the Caribbean Islands. She recently visited biblical sites in Israel and Egypt with her church. Her favored movie fare is light comedy and romance films, because "I hear serious concerns from litigants each day."