Alumna Sworn in as Historic Queens Surrogate Court Judge

A who’s who of local, state, and federal elected officials and judiciary members convened on the Queens, NY, campus of St. John’s University for the induction ceremony of Cassandra A. Johnson ’03C, ’06L, the newly elected Queens County Surrogate’s Court judge.

Elected in November to a term beginning January 1, 2025, the ceremonial induction ceremony took place on January 17—which coincided with Judge Johnson’s birthday, a secret known to just a few of the 400-plus attendees. The fourth-floor ballroom of the D’Angelo Center was standing room only as family, friends, and supporters of the history-making judge enjoyed a festive, Haitian-infused, and family-focused induction ceremony featuring music and a ballet performance by students from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School.

Another notable St. John’s graduate and Queens resident, Stacie N.C. Grant ’92C, the 26th International President and Chief Executive Officer of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, served as the mistress of ceremonies and kept the busy program moving.

Jelani Jefferson Exum, Dean and Rose DiMartino and Karen Sue Smith Professor of Law, St. John’s University School of Law, delivered words of welcome. “For 100 years, St. John’s School of Law has educated lawyers who use their vocation to make a difference. Judge Johnson lives our School’s mission of service in an impressive manner. She has been committed to using her legal career to ensure that people are heard and have equitable outcomes—and she has shown this commitment even from her time as a star student in our elder law clinic, representing people in foreclosure defense and consumer debt cases. She has maintained this commitment throughout her career, and she has done so while breaking barriers, becoming the first Haitian American woman elected to a State Supreme Court, and now being inducted as the first woman and first person of color to be Queens Surrogate’s Court judge.”

A panoply of public officials then took turns lauding the life, accomplishments, and inspirational career trajectory of Judge Johnson. The ceremony speakers included Honorable Charles “Chuck” E. Schumer, United States Senator; Honorable Letitia “Tish” James, New York State Attorney General; Honorable Gregory Meeks (5th–NY); Honorable Grace Meng (6th–NY); Honorable Donovan Richards Jr., Queens Borough President; Honorable Leroy Comrie, New York State Senate, District 14; Honorable Vivian E. Cook, Assemblymember, 32nd Assembly District; Honorable David I. Weprin, Assemblymember, 24th Assembly District, and various local judges.

A lifelong Queens resident, Judge Johnson is now the first Black woman sworn in to serve as Queens Surrogate’s Court Judge. She will serve a 14-year term and oversee cases involving the affairs of decedents, probate of wills, administration of estates, and certain types of guardianship petitions and adoptions throughout the borough.

“I am honored to serve as Queens County Surrogate Judge,” she told a rapt crowd of supporters, including her parents, who nurtured and inspired her legal career.

The child of Haitian immigrants, Judge Johnson grew up with an attorney mother, Andrée Sylvestre-Johnson—also a St. John’s Law graduate—who inspired her passion for the judicial field. 

“I began my legal career working for my mother in high school, and I continued to work with her during my time at St. John’s,” she recalled.

A mathematics major as an undergraduate, she was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national honorary mathematics society, and a member of the Mathematics Club. She was involved with the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal; Admiralty Practicum; Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic; and the Black Law Students Association as a law student. She completed her juris doctorate in 2006.

A true believer of the power of public service, Judge Johnson said she was inspired to run for Queens Surrogate’s Court because it “meets the needs of our community at a time when people are grieving. I believe that in the service of our society, we must advance the law,” she said.

After being helped into the judicial robe by her sister, Tiffany, and as her parents, Andrée and John, held the family Bible, Judge Johnson took the ceremonial oath of office and began a new chapter of her career in the halls of justice that had its origins in the halls of St. John’s University.