For nearly as long as I have been a judge, I have firmly believed in the importance of what I call demystifying the judiciary — that is, helping the public understand what judges do, how they make decisions, and how they’re chosen for their positions. One aspect of this demystification is candidly discussing my background and upbringing because I believe that my formative experiences — humble as they were — have given me a perspective some judges may lack, including a deep appreciation of the value of second chances. This perspective makes it easy for me to understand the motivation behind the push to enact “Second Look” legislation in New York.

I grew up in the Frederick Douglas Houses, a public housing project on the Upper West Side, and then moved, as a teenager, to Harlem. I was the second youngest of five brothers. My father had a serious mental illness, and as a result, my mother — who had my oldest brother when she was just 16 — had to raise us more or less on her own.