Janice Chen, a candidate for Kings County Civil Court, is speaking out against what she calls coordinated efforts by the Democratic political machine to block her from appearing on the ballot despite winning in court and receiving strong support from Brooklyn residents.
Chen, who launched her grassroots campaign with a message of fairness and community representation, gathered nearly 11,000 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. “Over the course of petitioning, my team and I gathered nearly 11,000 signatures from community members across Brooklyn, far exceeding the requirement,” Chen said. “These signatures are a powerful demonstration of the support we’ve built from everyday New Yorkers who believe in fairness, transparency, and representation on the bench.”
Still, her candidacy has faced persistent legal challenges. After winning unanimously in both the Supreme Court and the Appellate Division, where the First Department ruled 5-0 in her favor, her opponents have now taken the case to the Court of Appeals, the final level of review in New York.
“Unfortunately, the Democratic machine has worked tirelessly to keep me off the ballot, not by winning over voters, but by trying to disqualify me in court,” Chen explained. “We prevailed in the Supreme Court, and we prevailed in the Appellate Division, First Department unanimously 5-0. But now, they are taking their challenge to the Court of Appeals—a costly and time-consuming tactic designed to drain resources and block qualified candidates like myself from reaching the ballot.”
Chen is framing the challenge not just as a personal obstacle, but as part of a broader threat to democratic choice in Brooklyn. “This isn’t just about me. This is about silencing the will of Brooklyn residents who deserve the right to choose their judges. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to preserve power at the expense of democracy.”
As an Asian American woman, Chen says her candidacy brings a vital perspective to the bench and that she refuses to be intimidated or discouraged. “As an Asian American woman, I am all too familiar with what it means to be underestimated and dismissed. But I will not be deterred. The community has made its voice clear. I am standing strong, and I am staying on this path because Brooklyn deserves better.”
Chen is calling on voters to resist what she describes as political gatekeeping and to turn out for the June 24 Primary Election. “This moment is bigger than one campaign. It’s a call to action. Let’s stand up against these political games and fight for a fair and inclusive system. I’m asking Brooklyn voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box.”
With the legal challenge still pending, Chen continues to campaign throughout Brooklyn, determined to keep her name and her message on the ballot and in the public conversation.
Find out more about Janice Chen here.
News shared via NYC NEWSWIRE
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