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 of Asian ancestry (including naturalized Americans who are immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants). Although this term had historically been used for all the indigenous people ...
to serve as a presiding justice in New York State's history. Born in
Canton, China
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kong ...
but raised in New York City, Eng attended public school before graduating from the
State University of New York at Buffalo 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 Maste ...
. 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 approximat ...
, retiring as a judge advocate with the rank of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military 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 colonel was typically in charge of ...
.
Early life and education
He grew up in
Queens, New York
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long I ...
, 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 (or the New York City Public Schools) is t ...
.
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, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
from the
State University of New York at Buffalo in 1969 and a J.D. degree from
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 Maste ...
in 1972. He served in 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 approximat ...
and as a
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military 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 colonel was typically in charge of ...
in the
Judge Advocate General's Corps
The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as 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 judg ...
.
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.
See also
*
List of Asian American jurists
*
List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York
This is a list of the first minority male lawyer(s) and judge(s) in New York. It includes the year in which the men were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are other distinctions such as the first minority men in their state ...
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 State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department