Judge Juan Manuel Merchan: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

New York County Supreme Court, Department Part 59

Appointed By: Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau

Biography

The Hon. Juan Manuel Merchan is an acting justice of the New York County Supreme Court (Criminal Term) in the First Judicial District of New York. He was designated to the bench by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau in 2009.

Merchan began his judicial career as a judge for the Family Court of the City of New York in Bronx County, a position to which he was appointed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2006. Three years later, former Governor David Paterson appointed him to the New York State Court of Claims. He served in that capacity until 2018.

Prior to his appointment, Merchan worked for the New York State Attorney General’s Office. He started as a deputy assistant attorney general in-charge of Nassau County in 1999, quickly rising through the ranks to become the assistant attorney general in-charge of affirmative litigation for Nassau County and Suffolk County in 2001.

Merchan earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from the City University of New York, Bernard M. Baruch College in 1990. He then completed a J.D. at Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1994.

After graduating from law school, Merchan joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he served as an assistant district attorney. During his tenure there, he held assignments in the Trial Division (1994 to 1998) and the Investigations Division (1998 to 1999), specializing in the prosecution of financial fraud.

His memberships have included the Association of Judges of Hispanic Heritage and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

The youngest of six children, Merchan was born in Bogota, Colombia. Six years later, his family emigrated to Jackson Heights in Queens, where Merchan spent his formative years working various jobs, such as delivering kosher meat, washing dishes at a diner, managing a hotel, and carrying groceries.

About

Juan Manuel Merchan
Current Appointment New York County Supreme Court, Department Part 59	New York County Supreme Court, Department Part 59
Previous Appointment New York State Court of Claims	New York State Court of Claims
Education B.B.A., City University of New York, Bernard M. Baruch College - 1990 J.D., Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law - 1994	B.B.A., City University of New York, Bernard M. Baruch College - 1990 J.D., Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law - 1994

Court Info

Court Info
Current Court:	NY - New York County Supreme Court
Previous Court:	NY - New York State Court of Claims
Clerk phone:	+1 (646) 386-4059
Fax:	+1 (212) 295-4932

Career History

Career History
Role	Employer	Where
Assistant District Attorney	Office of the District Attorney	New York County, New York
Deputy Assistant Attorney General in-Charge	New York State Office of the Attorney General	Nassau County, New York
Assistant Attorney General in-Charge	New York State Office of the Attorney General	Suffolk County, New York
Assistant Attorney General in-Charge	New York State Office of the Attorney General	Nassau County, New York
Judge	Family Court of the City of New York	Bronx County, New York
Acting Justice	New York County Supreme Court (Criminal Term)	New York County, New York