Immigrant candidate for Civil Court judge Is model for today’s ‘Dream Act’ efforts

September 7, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Connie Mallafre Melendez. Photo by Diana Roman of D'Vinely Inspired

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Connie Mallafre Melendez is currently running for Civil Court judge in Kings County. She was born in Cuba and as a young child came to the U.S., where she worked her way through college and graduated from Rutgers University magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. In 1983, she enrolled in Brooklyn Law School, where she received a Juris Doctor in 1986.

Melendez is the principal law clerk for Justice Marsha L. Steinhardt at the New York Supreme Court in Kings County.

She recently spoke to the Brooklyn Eagle about her experience as an immigrant coming to America, about what motivated her to want to pursue a career in law and her desire to become a Civil Court judge.

Eagle: How old were you when you came to America?

Melendez: I came to the U.S. at age 2. We lived in Miami for six months and moved to Union City, New Jersey, where I was raised in public housing.

Eagle: How did your early childhood in Cuba influence your decision to seek a career in law?

Melendez: My decision to become a lawyer came about while I was working as a social worker after college. I was assisting victims of domestic violence and children who were physically and sexually abused. I appeared before judges on behalf of the children and I realized that I enjoyed advocating for others. In fact, I have spent my entire career in public service — first as a lawyer for the City of New York and for the past 8 1/2 years working for a Supreme Court judge.

Eagle: What are some of your current duties as principal law clerk for Justice Steinhardt?

Melendez: I assist the judge in all her responsibilities. During the years with Judge Steinhardt, I have resolved many legal disputes and conferenced and settled many cases. I have developed skills to make well-reasoned decisions.

Eagle: Do you have opponents for the judge’s seat? Who will make the ultimate selection?

Melendez: Eleven candidates are running for Civil Court judge. There are five open seats, two of which are incumbent seats. Voters will be asked to vote for five candidates.

Eagle: What are some of the organizations you belong to and activities you perform within the community?

Melendez: I am active and on the board of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association. In conjunction with that organization, I organized the Brooklyn Legal Pipeline Program, which aims to mentor and guide disadvantaged college students who aspire to go to law school.

I am also active with the Brooklyn Bar Association’s LGBTQ Committee. My goal is to bring more inclusion, acceptance and at least more tolerance of LGBTQ lifestyles within the Latino community. We are presently working on a law student mixer with both groups to be held in the fall.

Eagle: Do you feel that your background as an immigrant brings something new and unique to the bench that has been missing?

Melendez: Yes, I bring an awareness that everyone must be treated equally and with respect. When I was first learning English, my peers made fun of me because I didn’t speak properly and had a thick accent. My teachers thought that I was cognitively challenged and [I was] placed in a special [education]. class until they realized that the problem was that I didn’t know the language. Language may be a stumbling block to many coming to court. Equally important to me is that everyone, irrespective of race, creed and sexual orientation, is treated fairly and with dignity.

Eagle: How did these difficulties help motivate you to excel?

Melendez: I saw how my parents stressed at not being able to make ends meet and I knew that their paychecks could not cover us from week to week. I saw how some of the older girls were ending up with the same problems that had plagued their parents. My mother always taught me and my two sisters that we needed to be economically self-sufficient. I realized that to make my life easier than that of my parents, I would have to stay in school. The easy part was that I loved learning and I was curious and excited to gain knowledge. I knew that excelling in school was key. This kept me focused.

Eagle: Have you been able to visit Cuba since you first left?

Melendez: I have not been back to Cuba yet. For many years I hesitated taking the trip back to Cuba because I knew it would be a hard trip for me emotionally. While it is very interesting to see the old cars and old buildings, these sights serve as a reminder for me as to how difficult life has been for the people in Cuba. While tourists visiting Cuba come back claiming that the Cubans are happy people, I am aware that they have suffered hunger and misery for many years. I also know that the people have been stripped of civil liberties for years. That said, I do hope to visit next year. I want to bring my children and husband to visit the country of my birth.

Eagle: What do you ultimately hope to accomplish if you are elected as a Civil Court judge?

Melendez: It sounds like a cliche, but I hope to administer justice. I have met so many people from all communities in Brooklyn and I hear their varied messages. Ingrained in my mind is the look in their eyes and the uniform request that I not forget who I am and where I started. They ask me not to forget their stories. They ask me to rule with fairness. I will do so.