Randall T. Eng (born December 16, 1947) is an American judge who was the presiding justice of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department. Eng became the first

Asian-American Asian Americans are Americans with ancestry from the continent of Asia (including naturalized Americans who are immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of those immigrants). Although this term had historically been used for ...

to serve as a presiding justice in New York State's history. Born in Canton, China but raised in New York City, Eng attended public school before graduating from the

State University of New York at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public research university in Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. The university was founded in 1846 a ...

and

St. John's University School of Law St. John's University School of Law is a Roman Catholic law school in Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States, affiliated with St. John's University. The School of Law was founded in 1925, and confers Juris Doctor degrees and degrees for Mast ...

. From 1970 to 2004, Eng was a member of the

New York Army National Guard The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the United States Army's available combat forces and approximate ...

, retiring as a judge advocate with the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Early life and education

He grew up in

Queens, New York Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

, where he attended

New York City public schools The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city's public school system. The City School District of the City of New York (more commonly known as New York City Publ ...

. Eng received a B.A. degree in

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

from the

in 1969 and a J.D. degree from

in 1972. He served in the

and as a

in the

Judge Advocate General's Corps The Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG or JAG Corps) is the military justice branch or specialty of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called judge advocates ...

Legal career

Eng began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Queens and held senior positions in the New York City Department of Corrections. He became a judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York in 1983. In 1991, he became a judge of the Supreme Court, Queens County courts, and was the administrative judge of the Criminal Term of Queens County Supreme Court starting in March 2007. He was the first Asian-American justice in New York State. In January 2008 Eng was elevated to the Appellate Division. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed him the presiding justice of the Second Department in 2012, becoming the first Asian American to serve as presiding justice of an Appellate Division. After retiring from the bench, in January 2018, Eng joined the New York-based law firm Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. as Of Counsel to the Litigation Department, the Appellate Practice and Criminal Defense groups.

Awards

In 2016, Eng gave the commencement address for St. John's Law School and was awarded an honorary degree. In 2016 Eng also won the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award, NAPABA's highest honor, which recognizes the outstanding achievements, commitment, and leadership of lawyers who have paved the way for the advancement of other Asian Pacific American attorneys.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eng, Randall T. 1947 births Living people American lawyers of Chinese descent County district attorneys in New York (state) New York (state) Democrats New York (state) lawyers New York Supreme Court justices St. John's University School of Law alumni Presiding justices of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department

Early life and education

Legal career

Awards

See also

References