Judge Wendy Li explained that a vote for her is a vote for an impartial and independent judge poised to be effective at Queens County’s Surrogate’s Court.
She began our interview by describing her legal career, which began in the United States back in 2000. Judge Li was admitted to the bars in the states of New York and California, and in the Northern District of Texas. She is also a former law firm partner in New York. In 2018, she accomplished a lifelong dream of becoming an elected judge and has since published 71 judicial decisions that appear in newspapers and the State Reporter. Throughout her career, she has received education and training in various fields, including law, finance, and international relations, all making her well-rounded for the position on the ballot.
Judge Li was approved for election to the Queens Surrogate’s Court by the Asian American Bar Association, and during our conversation this past Monday evening by the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York. These associations based their decision on the exact same questionnaires, set of references, and supporting documents that were provided to the Queens County Bar Association/New York City Bar Association that opted to disapprove her election in this race. Judge Li rejects this decision, citing it as a miscarriage of justice against a previously approved Civil Court Judge with a superlative record of fairness, ethics, and efficiency. Judge Li spoke of her educational and professional record, intellectual ability, and work ethic as supportive reasoning for her to be considered fit to serve as the next Queens Surrogate’s Court judge. “These ideals speak far louder than a predetermined political decision in furtherance of the Queens political machine’s influence,” she told me.
Last month, I made Judge Li’s acquaintance at Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ Jewish Heritage Month celebration. I learned that she attended quite a few similar events honoring the rich and vibrant history of the Jewish people. Among them was a notable attendance at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony held at the Criminal Court on Queens Blvd. I also found the judge very interactive with Shoah survivors at an earlier Holocaust remembrance held in Hillcrest. Overall, the judge has much respect for the contributions that Jews have made in science and medicine. She also has much love for Jewish icons like Jerry Seinfeld, Barbara Streisand, and engineer researchers like Jonas Salk, the developer of the first polio vaccine who graduated from Queens’ Townsend Harris High School.
Judge Li explained that Chinese culture often models itself off Jewish character traits. She spoke of her family taking pride in Shanghai serving as a refugee site for stateless Jews. “In the 1930s, when most nations and cities rejected Jewish refugees fleeing from persecution, Shanghai was the exception, welcoming about 20,000 Jewish refugees. Many later became accomplished dentists and doctors.”
The judge spoke highly of the Brandeis Association, a Queens County Bar Association of Jewish legal professionals, and mentioned joining their breakfast, where the wonderful tradition of providing scholarships for young students is showcased. “Jewish culture, like Chinese culture, greatly respects education that gives a foundation to our next generation.” The judge spoke of the Jewish community’s impeccable voting record that all should emulate.
Judge Li is fond of the Jewish tradition where parents discuss current events and politics at the dinner table with their children from a young age and explained that Chinese culture has implemented this trait. “Parents respect the thoughts and ideas of their children, and they discuss world events like friends, which is wonderful.”
Judge Li graduated from Oxford and Peking Universities and attended Harvard University. She immigrated to the States at age 28 and soon became a partner at international law firms. She has more than 25 years of legal expertise and has served on the bench for nearly six years. “Becoming a judge does not fall from the sky. I urge all our young professionals with desires, especially women, to seek the positions they desire. If you unlock the door, it will open new prospects for a bright future.”
Judge Li is free of the political machine that has ruled Queens for so long and believes she can be quite effective at making the appointments of the administrators to estates that control a large amount of money. Judge Li understands that the Surrogate’s Court works with professionals at all levels including lawyer accountants, appraisers, financiers, and members of all industries in our lives. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” is her motto. Additionally, Judge Li will work to implement night court hours and have interpreters available giving working people and those with language barriers every opportunity to have equal and fair justice.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
