Helene E. Weinstein (born September 6, 1952) is an American politician who represented District 41 in the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...

, which comprises

Sheepshead Bay Sheepshead, Sheephead, or Sheep's Head, may refer to: Fish * '' Archosargus probatocephalus'', a medium-sized saltwater fish of the Atlantic Ocean * Freshwater drum, ''Aplodinotus grunniens'', a medium-sized freshwater fish of North and Central ...

, Flatlands, East Flatbush,

Midwood Midwood is a neighborhood in the south-central part of the New York City borough (New York City), borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded on the north by the Bay Ridge Branch tracks just above Avenue I and by the Brooklyn College campus of the City ...

and

Canarsie Canarsie ( ) is a mostly residential neighborhood in the southeastern portion of Brooklyn, New York City. Canarsie is bordered on the east by Fresh Creek Basin, East 108th Street, and Louisiana Avenue; on the north by Linden Boulevard; on th ...

, in Brooklyn.

Biography

First elected in 1980, Weinstein chaired the Assembly's Ways and Means Committee and was a member of the standing committees on Aging, Codes, Rules. She also chaired the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees, Election Law and Judiciary, and the Assembly Task Force on Women's Issues earlier in her career. Weinstein chaired the Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary. She is the first woman in New York State's history to be appointed to this position. The Judiciary Committee presides over virtually all legislation affecting the state's judicial system, Family and Domestic Relations Law, Trusts and Estates, as well as civil practice in the courts. Weinstein sponsored major reforms in the state's jury system and is the leading proponent of ensuring civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers. Weinstein led the successful effort to increase 18B and Law Guardian rates. Weinstein was a member of the Court Facilities Capital Review Board during her time in the legislature Weinstein has previously served as an appointee of former Governor

Mario Cuomo Mario Matthew Cuomo ( , ; June 15, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 52nd governor of New York for three terms, from 1983 to 1994. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic ...

to the New York State Child Support Commission and the Governor's Commission on Domestic Violence. Over her political career since 1998, the two groups contributing the greatest amounts to her campaigns have been trial lawyers/lobbyists and public sector unions.

Education

Weinstein holds a B.A. in Economics from

American University The American University (AU or American) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Its main campus spans 90-acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, in the Spri ...

as well as a degree from the

New England School of Law New England Law Boston (formerly New England School of Law, and styled as New England Law Boston) is a private law school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded as Portia School of Law in 1908 and is located in downtown Boston near the Massa ...

Occupation

Weinstein is of counsel to her family's personal-injury law firm, Weinstein, Chase, Messinger & Peters, P.C. She has been licensed to practice law in New York since 1977.

References

External links

New York Assembly Member WebsiteKey Votes from Project Vote Smart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinstein, Helene Jewish American women in politics Jewish state legislators in New York (state) Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly Women state legislators in New York (state) Living people 1952 births 21st-century American women politicians American University alumni New England Law Boston alumni 20th-century American women politicians 21st-century American Jews 21st-century members of the New York State Legislature 20th-century members of the New York State Legislature