Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks on Tuesday announced the appointments of four administrative judges in New York City, including an appointment to the post abandoned by a Staten Island judge accused of colluding with her district attorney husband.

Judge Deborah Kaplan, who most recently acted an interim administrative judge in Richmond County, was appointed as an administrative judge, civil term, in New York County. Kaplan took over the Staten Island judgeship following allegations that Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon and his administrative judge wife worked together to steer criminal cases away from courts that she thought were too defense-friendly.

In September, Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Judith McMahon, the administrative judge for civil matters on Staten Island, resigned from her administrative post but did not step down from the bench following reports that a court clerk recorded conversations with judges and turned them over to investigators. McMahon was transferred instead to Manhattan to preside over a judicial mediation part, and Kaplan was transferred to Staten Island to take over Judith McMahon's role.

Kaplan will succeed Deputy Chief Administrative Judge George Silver, who has been serving as New York County Supreme Court's administrative judge on an interim basis. Judge Desmond Green, who has been sitting in Richmond County Supreme Court Civil Term since 2014, was named as the administrative judge for civil and criminal terms in Richmond County, Marks announced.

Additionally, Judge Tamiko Amaker was appointed as administrative judge for New York City criminal court. Amaker was named supervising judge in New York City Criminal Court, “where she has been instrumental in reducing case backlogs and implementing a variety of measures to streamline operations and ensure the fair administration of justice,” the Unified Court System said in a news release.

Judge Anthony Cannataro, who most recently was named as the supervising judge of New York City Civil Court in New York County, will serve as administrative judge for New York City Civil Court.

In a statement, Marks lauded the four judges.

“These four judges are exemplary public servants, representing a wealth of talent and expertise, and possessing the leadership, vision and collegiality for success in their critical new roles,” Marks said. Marks also added that he's looking forward to working with the four judges to advance Chief Judge Janet DiFiore's Excellence Initiative, which seeks to cut backlogs and improve court efficiency. 

For the “foreseeable future,” Silver will serve as interim administrative Judge for Bronx County Supreme Court, filling the void created with Judge Douglas McKeon's appointment as the presiding justice of the Appellate Term, First Department, Marks also announced. In addition, Marks named two new supervising judges, Judge Carol Sharpe in New York County and Judge Donna-Marie Golia in Queens County.