Rachel Freier
Rachel "Ruchie" Freier is a New York City Criminal Court judge.
In 2016, she campaigned and was elected as a Civil Court judge for the Kings County 5th judicial district in New York State, thereby becoming the first Hasidic Jewish woman to be elected as a civil court judge in New York State, and the first Hasidic woman to hold public office in United States history. Although she ran for the Civil Court, after her election, she was assigned to serve on the Criminal Court in the Kings County 5th judicial district. She previously worked as a real estate attorney and community activist, and served as a volunteer court lawyer in the New York City Family Court.
Early life and education
Freier was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, the eldest of five children in a Hasidic Jewish family. While attending the Bais Yaakov high school in Borough Park, she took a course in legal stenography, and she graduated from high school in 1982. At age 19 she married David Freier, with whom she has three sons and three daughters.Freier worked first as a legal secretary, and, in 1994, as a paralegal at law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, in order to support her husband in kollel. Her husband went on to complete an accounting degree at Touro College, and in 1996, she also decided to pursue a college education. She began studying law at age 30 after realizing she was working for lawyers younger than her.
She enrolled at Lander College, part of the Touro College and University System, where she became director of the women's pre-law society, and graduated six years later with a bachelor of science degree in political science.
She then entered Brooklyn Law School, completing her degree in four years, graduating in June 2005. She passed the New York State Bar in 2006.
Career
Freier passed the New York State Bar exam in 2006. She is also licensed to practice law in New Jersey and the District of Columbia.Freier and her husband shared an office in Borough Park, where she practiced commercial and residential estate law, and he did commercial financing.
Freier also had a law office in Monroe, New York, where she does business with Hasidic residents of nearby Kiryas Joel. She advocated for the Satmar Hasidic Community by speaking to residents of Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland counties, to help correct misconceptions people might have about Hasidic life in Kiryas Joel and to better understand the Hasidic neighbors in their midst.
Freier began her political career in 2001 as an intern in the Manhattan office of then-U.S. Senator from New York Hillary Clinton. She also interned for other elected officials.
Civil court judge
In April 2016, Freier announced her candidacy for Civil Court Judge, running for the spot on the bench vacated by Judge Noach Dear.In the September 2016 Democratic primary election for Civil Court Judge of the Kings County 5th judicial district, Freier garnered 4,730 votes, followed by Jill Epstein with 3,993 votes, and Morton Avigdor with 2,835 votes. She entered the November general election, with Avigdor as a Conservative Party challenger, and received 68,088 votes, to his 23,393 votes.
Freier was endorsed in the three-way race during the elections by The Jewish Press and the New York Daily News.
On December 22, 2016, she was sworn in at Brooklyn Borough Hall. She delivered a speech that included Hebrew and Yiddish phrases and concepts which she translated into English. Her inauguration ceremony was carried live on WABC-TV and News 12.
On hand for her swearing-in was Hasidic singer Lipa Schmeltzer, who sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with bits of Yiddish and "God Bless America" in full Yiddish version.
Subsequent to her swearing-in, Freier was assigned to serve on the New York City Criminal Court.
In December 2017 Megyn Kelly welcomed Freier to The Today Show as the woman The New York Times has called “the Hasidic superwoman of night court”; she was featured in the series “She’s Got Faith,” marking her one-year anniversary on the bench.
Volunteer activities
In 2005, Freier established Chasdei Devorah, Inc., a non-profit charity organization to help poor Jewish families, in memory of a young friend.In 2008, Freier was one of the founders of B'Derech, a GED program for Haredi youth at-risk. The organization also helps troubled teens with therapy and hypnosis.
The program launched in partnership with the New York branch of Bramson ORT College, adding a Men's Division and Women's Division.
In 2010, Freier advocated to save Breslov Yeshiva in Williamsburg, in spite of opposition from some who harassed the students and maligned the Rabbi, Yoeli Roth. Freier received threats for defending the yeshiva, but she won the court case.
In 2011, she founded , an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service established with the goal of preserving women's modesty in emergency medical situations, especially childbirth.
The group was formed after its request to add a female corps of EMT volunteers to the all-male Hatzalah organization, the long-standing Orthodox Jewish EMT service in New York City, was rejected. Hatzalah was the subject of controversy as articles in the New York Post and JEMS Magazine criticize the organization for its discriminatory practice of not allowing women to join. The group of Orthodox women cited the need for modesty and sensitivity to the needs of fellow Orthodox women. Freier is working on a project to buy an ambulance for the organization. Freier initially provided advocacy services for the group, and took over the directorship of the organization in 2012. Ezras Nashim was licensed by the New York State Department of Health in February 2013, though the volunteer corps respond in their own private vehicles as Ezras Nashim is still awaiting a license to operate a full ambulance service.
In October 2019, a public hearing was held over Ezras Nashim's ambulance license at The Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of NYC. In November 2019, The Council did not approve the motion, a failure of either side to produce a majority of 14 votes to either pass the motion or deny it. Therefore, the case will move up to the Albany State EMS Council for a Decision.
Affiliations
Freier is a licensed EMT, and has completed advanced training to qualify as a New York State paramedic. She has served on Borough Park's Community Board 12, and performed pro bono legal services for the New York City Family Court.Freier appeared in a documentary about Ezras Nashim, entitled "93QUEEN", which was directed by filmmaker Paula Eiselt. The film made its world premiere on May 1, 2018, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. The film aired on PBS's POV, marking its television debut, on September 17, 2018.
Honors and awards
In September 2017, Freier was honored at the New York City Hall in the Council Chambers with a "Proclamation Award" presented by the Speaker & Council-members of the Jewish Caucus for her achievement of becoming the First Hasidic Woman elected to Public Office in New York City.In 2017, Freier was chosen by The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper, as #40 of the "50 Most Influential Jews" in the world. In 2016, she was named one of the "15 Most Influential Jews" in the world by Makor Rishon, another Israeli newspaper.
Also in 2016, Freier's judgeship was selected by Kings County Politics as one of the "Top 10 Stories" among political events in New York City that year. She was also listed by City & State magazine as one of the "Winners" among politicians of New York State that year, and was a recipient of Jew in the City's "Orthodox Jewish All Stars Award".
In September 2018, Freier was named by the Algemeiner Journal among the "J100" list of "top 100 people" positively influencing Jewish life. In December 2018, Freier was named in The "Forward 50" list of American Jews who have a profound impact on the American Jewish community. In October 2018, Freier was inducted into the Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame; she received an award recognized among the leading Brooklynites.