Kings County Democrats select three Civil Court nominees after lengthy judicial process

After a lengthy and meticulous deliberation, the Kings County Democratic County Committee selected its judicial nominees during a County Committee meeting held on Monday, July 20. The nominees will appear on the ballot for the November 3 general election.

The candidates selected for the open Civil Court seats are Xavier E. Carr, Esq., representing the 4th Municipal Court District; Michelle DeSouza-Forte, representing the 6th Municipal Court District; and Bridget Hamblin, Esq., representing the 7th Municipal Court District. The nomination meeting followed a virtual Judicial Candidate Community Forum held on Thursday, July 16, during which candidates introduced themselves to party members, committee members, judicial delegates, and the public. During the forum, candidates discussed their legal backgrounds, explained why they were seeking judicial office, and outlined how they would serve their respective districts if elected. The forum was moderated by District Leaders Anthony Beckford and Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee.

The July 20 nomination meeting was held in the afternoon at Brooklyn College’s Ingersoll Extension Center for the purpose of voting to nominate the Democratic Party candidates for the three open Civil Court judgeships. Before the voting process could begin, there was a roll call to determine which members were present, absent, or represented by proxy. While the roll call extended the meeting, it provided a transparent and orderly method for documenting every eligible vote, ensuring fairness, accountability, and public confidence in the party’s judicial nomination process.

“When we look at the judicial system today, we see the need for more transparency, accountability, representation and of course justice,” District Leader Anthony Beckford in an interview. “I am happy to see Xavier Carr, Michelle Desouza and Brudget Hamblin all be selected by the county committee members in their respective Municipal Districts, to be placed on the November 3rd, 2026 General Election ballot… All three are well versed in law, are seasoned and vetted attorneys, and are from the communities in which their municipalities represent.”

The nomination process confirmed that Michelle DeSouza-Forte, Esq.; Xavier E. Carr, Esq.; and Bridget Hamblin, Esq., met the requirements necessary to seek election to the Civil Court bench. According to A Guide to Judicial Elections in New York City published by the New York City Bar Association, candidates seeking judicial office must be attorneys admitted to practice law in New York for at least 10 years before taking office. Candidates seeking a place on the ballot must also submit valid designating petitions containing the required number of voter signatures — 4,000 for a countywide seat or 1,500 for a district seat, with additional signatures typically collected to withstand potential legal challenges. 

If multiple candidates qualify for the same party nomination, they compete in a primary election; if only one candidate qualifies, that candidate becomes the party’s nominee automatically. Through this process, candidates demonstrate that they have met the legal qualifications, successfully completed the ballot-access requirements, and earned the opportunity to compete for election to the bench.

A commotion arose during the nomination proceedings after the panel announced Bridget Hamblin’s nomination for the 7th Municipal Court District. When the panel asked whether there were any further nominations, a woman who identified herself as “a County Committee member for the municipal court district 6” stated, “My name is Carey, and I would like to nominate Brian Chelcun for the 7th Municipal Court District.” The nomination was made during the proceedings, and the panel then paused to address the additional candidate, revisit the voting process, recount the votes, and repeat the roll call of members and proxy holders before the meeting could continue. One attendee described the incident as “a trainwreck,” while others characterized it as “disruptive” and “a commotion” because of the confusion and delays it created.

District Leader Anthony Beckford, who represents the 43rd State Assembly District and also served on the panel, issued a statement addressing the events that occurred during the nomination proceedings. In his statement, Beckford criticized what he described as efforts to disrupt the nomination process, saying, “Far too often, you see the disruption of those who speak of democracy, but only when it benefits their self-serving needs.”

Beckford argued that some individuals support democratic processes only when the outcome aligns with their interests. He characterized the events surrounding the nomination proceedings as an example of what he viewed as an attempt to interfere with the process. Beckford further stated, “This individual planned a candidacy protest of a white male candidate against a Black woman who was duly qualified and actually from the municipality.”

The nomination proceedings were also interrupted several times by an attendee who questioned the panel’s voting procedures, including the requirement to call members by Assembly District and verify proxy votes. The repeated exchanges created delays as panel members addressed the questions before continuing the meeting. 

However, during the forum, on Thursday July 16, Brian Chelcun was asked by Beckford, who hosted the forum, to identify the Municipal Court District in which he intended to seek the nomination and confirm his candidacy. Yet, he did not announce a district designation during that meeting. Instead, his nomination was introduced during the County Committee voting proceedings held on Monday, July 20.

“I am undecided in which municipal district that I want to run,” Chelcun stated in the forum meeting.

Hon. Renee Collymore, who was also on the panel, stated in an interview, “It’s no secret that we still experience racism, but the most awful kind is the subtle kind…the kind that comes with a smile and can appear as if something was an honest gesture, like what happened at the Brooklyn Democratic meeting tonight.”

“It was a tasteless display that was seen by many as a racist attack on the elevation of 3 Black outstanding and qualified judicial nominees,” Collymore added. “The intentional and last second nomination of a white public defender, sitting in the audience, aggressive and rudely interrupted a wonderful evening. The woman who suddenly made the nomination and her white counterparts visually seemed agitated by the happy tone in the audience regarding the nominations of the Black candidates. Yes, everyone has a right to run and everyone can have a chance, as our party’s nominations have always been fair and open, which I am proud of. The County Chair, Rodneyse Bichotte, has always led the charge with all honesty and integrity. However, the radical left members of the Party still attempt to undermine Black electeds and Black candidates all over NYC. I want them to know that the Black community can see their racist attempts, whether they know it or not.”

The Kings County Democratic County Committee’s nomination process ultimately resulted in the selection of three Civil Court candidates who will move forward to the November 3 general election ballot representing Brooklyn’s 4th, 6th, and 7th Municipal Court Districts. Despite the interruptions and procedural challenges that occurred during the meeting, the nominees now enter the next stage of the judicial election process as they seek voters’ support for seats on the Civil Court bench.

Details of each candidate respective districts are as follow: 

Candidates participating in this year’s nomination process included:

4th Municipal Court District: Xavier Carr

6th Municipal Court District: Michelle DeSouza-Forte

7th Municipal Court District: Bridget Hamblin

The municipal districts cover the following Assembly Districts:

4th Municipal Court District: Assembly Districts 41, 43, 55, 56, 58, 59, and 60.

6th Municipal Court District: Assembly Districts 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 52, 57, and 58.

7th Municipal Court District: Assembly Districts 53, 54, 55, and 60.