Profile

Justice Carolyn Walker-Diallo ’03 is the first Muslim person to serve as a judge in the State of New York. In 2015, Justice Walker-Diallo was elected to the New York City Civil Court, where she served first as a Criminal Court Judge in Brooklyn and then as a Civil Court Judge in Manhattan. In December, 2018, she was appointed Supervising Judge of the Kings County Civil Court, where she served from January, 2019 to August, 2021. In August, 2021, Justice Walker-Diallo was appointed Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York (also known as “the People’s Court”). As Administrative Judge, Justice Walker-Diallo oversees the day-to-day administration and operation of the civil court throughout the five boroughs of New York City. In November, 2021, Justice Walker-Diallo was elected to serve as a New York State Supreme Court Justice.

Prior to assuming the bench, Justice Walker-Diallo worked as a litigation associate at Milbank LLP, an assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department, an Administrative Law Judge at NYC OATH, General Counsel and Chief Compliance officer of Brooklyn Community Services, and Executive Director of the George Walker Jr. Community Coalition, Inc (“GWJrCC”), a youth development nonprofit organization based in Cypress Hills/East New York, which is named after her late father.

As Administrative Judge, Justice Walker-Diallo created the first ever comprehensive New York City civil court training program offered through the Judicial Institute for newly elected civil court judges and judges assigned to the civil court after having presided over another court. She also successfully re-established a law department for the civil court, which is vital to ensuring efficient and effective justice.

Justice Walker-Diallo serves on state and regional committees and working groups within the Unified Court System. She has received many accolades, including the Ecumenical Award from the Catholic Lawyer’s Guild of Brooklyn and the Lynn R. Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award from the Brooklyn Bar Association. In addition to her role as a jurist, Justice Walker-Diallo serves as the Board Chair of GWJrCC and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American, college-educated women.

While a student at New York Law School, Justice Walker-Diallo served as the President of the Black Law Students Association, Co-Founder and Vice-President of the Muslim Law Students Association, and Executive Notes and Comments Editor of the New York Law School Journal of Human Rights.

Justice Walker-Diallo teaches Drafting Litigation and led Behind the Bench: The Law Student’s Guide to the Judiciary, a summer workshop series.