{{short description|American lawyer and judge}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Jeff-Pearlman.JPG | caption = Pearlman in 2013 | office = Judge of the New York Court of Claims | nominator = Kathy Hochul | term_start = June 5, 2024 | term_end = | birth_name = Jeffrey Hayes Pearlman | birth_date = 1966 | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | occupation = Judge | party = Democratic | alma_mater = State University of New York at New Paltz }}
'''Jeffrey Hayes Pearlman''' (born 1966) is an Acting Supreme Court Justice in New York County and was formerly the director of the Authorities Budget Office <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abo.ny.gov/ |title=New York State Authorities Budget Office |website=ABO.ny.gov |publisher=New York State |access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref>
He previously served as Special Counsel to the Governor, Kathy Hochul and as Special Counsel to the Transition following the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Pearlman was previously chief of staff and Counsel to the Lieutenant Governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-administration-appointments-16|title=Governor Cuomo Announces Administration Appointments | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo|access-date=2015-10-08|archive-date=2016-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011822/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-administration-appointments-16|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to this, Jeff served as chief of staff to the New York State Senate Democratic Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/03/poachers-paradise/|title=Poacher's Paradise|access-date=2015-10-08|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032757/http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/03/poachers-paradise/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, Jeff was formerly Of Counsel to the law firm Greenberg Traurig,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gtlaw.com/News-Events/Newsroom/Press-Releases?find=147278&printver=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223174559/http://www.gtlaw.com/News-Events/Newsroom/Press-Releases?find=147278&printver=true |archive-date=2014-02-23 |title=Jeffrey Pearlman, Assistant Counsel to Former New York State David A. Paterson, Joins Greenberg Traurig's Government and Litigation Practices - Greenberg Traurig LLP }}</ref> where his field of practice included Government Affairs and litigation, specializing in Ethics, Freedom of Information Law, Election Law and other client related matters. Pearlman also was an Assistant Counsel to Governor David Paterson of New York. He resides in Albany, New York.
==Education and early career== A 1989 graduate of SUNY New Paltz, Pearlman also graduated from Albany Law School in 2000.<ref name="Red Book">Neiles, Edward, editor, ''The New York Red Book''. Albany: New York Legal Publishing. (2007) p. 31.</ref><ref name=Appointments>[http://ny.gov/governor/appointments/j_pearlman.html New York Government official website Appointments page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718014959/http://www.ny.gov/governor/appointments/j_pearlman.html |date=2008-07-18 }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref><ref name=Democratic>[http://www.nydlc.org/live/menulist.php?id=7 New York Democratic Lawyers Council official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019120954/http://www.nydlc.org/live/menulist.php?id=7 |date=2008-10-19 }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref> He served as a staff person in the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate from 1987 through 2006.<ref name="Red Book" /><ref name=Appointments /><ref name=Democratic /> During this time, he worked for member of the assembly Ivan Lafayette, and state senators Martin Connor, David Paterson, Jeremy Weinstein, Liz Krueger, Donald Halperin, and Manfred Ohrenstein.<ref name="Red Book" /><ref name=Appointments /><ref name=Democratic /> Pearlman also served as a judicial intern to New York Supreme Court Justice Louis Benza.<ref name="Red Book" /><ref name=Appointments /><ref name=Democratic />
Pearlman was visiting clinical professor of law and director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at Albany Law School until his appointment as assistant counsel to Governor Paterson in May 2008.<ref name=Democratic /><ref>[http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1278 Albany Law School official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705213451/http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1278 |date=2010-07-05 }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://podcasts.classcaster.org/blog/archives/2007/04/ Podcasts web site of Albany law School symposium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820001340/http://podcasts.classcaster.org/blog/archives/2007/04/ |date=2008-08-20 }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref> He was interviewed by ''The Business Review'' for his work with the clinic.<ref>Durr, Eric, "Rich man, poor man: Students meet IRS in Albany law 'tax clinic'", ''The Business Review (Albany)'' found at [http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2006/04/10/focus3.html Charlotte Business Journal website]. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1177 Albany Law School official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914011053/http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1177 |date=2007-09-14 }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref> He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Albany Law School and The University at Albany, teaching Government Ethics.
He served as a vice president of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council.<ref name=Democratic /> In 2004 and 2006 he represented State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins in her bid to unseat State Senator Nicholas Spano. He prepared and organized a ballot protection effort that uncovered attempts by the opposition to suppress the vote on Election Day. In 2006, 2009 and 2010, he successfully represented the Democratic Party in its election law challenges to designating petitions.<ref>Elizabeth Benjamin, On and Off in the 49th (part 2), Blog, ''Albany Times-Union'', found at [http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/category/working-families-party/page/2 ''Albany Times-Union'' archives]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref> He has also served as a member of the Albany County, New York Democratic Committee.{{citation needed|date=July 2008}}
==Assistant Counsel to Governor Paterson== On December 31, 2006, then Lieutenant Governor-elect David Paterson appointed as his counsel.<ref name="Red Book" /><ref name=Appointments /> In March 2008, after Paterson became governor, Pearlman was appointed Assistant Counsel to the Governor, Ethics Officer for the Executive Chamber and Records Access Officer, in charge of all Freedom of Information Act requests for the executive chamber.<ref>[http://www.ny.gov/governor/foil/ New York Government official web site FOIL web page]{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Accessed July 21, 2008.</ref>
==Special Counsel to Governor Hochul==
On August 24, 2021, Kathy Hochul assumed the Governorship of New York. Hochul brought on Pearlman to serve as her special counsel. Pearlman served in this year for one year before returning to the Authorities Budget Office.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-new-administration-appointments | title=Governor Hochul Announces New Administration Appointments | Governor Kathy Hochul }}</ref> Pearlman had previously served as her chief of staff when Hochul was lieutenant governor.
==Court of Claims==
On June 3, 2024, Kathy Hochul nominated Pearlman to sit on the Court of Claims. The NYS Senate confirmed him on June 5, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2024/06/03/nys-senate-schedules-hearings-for-court-of-claims-nominations/ | title=NYS Senate schedules hearings for Court of Claims nominations | date=3 June 2024 }}</ref>
He was also appointed an acting Justice on New York's trial court. His decision to declare the district's lines unconstitutional, in January 2026,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5699912-ny-judge-rules-redistricting-unconstitutional/|work=The Hill|title=New York judge calls GOP-held House district 'unconstitutional,' orders new map|first=Caroline|last=Vakil|date=January 21, 2026|access-date=February 20, 2026}}</ref> was upheld by the intermediate appeals court in February 2026.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.amny.com/law/appeals-court-green-lights-effort-to-redraw-u-s-rep-nicole-malliotakis-district/|work=AMNY|title=Appeals court green lights effort to redraw U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' district|first=Max |last=Parrott|date=February 19, 2026|access-date=February 20, 2026}}</ref> On March 3, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a stay, in effect stopping the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/supreme-court-blocks-redraw-lone-gop-held-district-new-york-city-rcna261426|title=2026 ELECTION: Supreme Court blocks redraw of lone GOP-held district in New York City: The ruling will leave Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' Staten Island-based 11th District unchanged for this year's midterm elections.|work=NBC News|date=March 2, 2026|first1=Gary |last1= Grumbach |first2=Jane C.|last2= Timm|access-date=March 3, 2026}}</ref>
==See also== * Charles J. O'Byrne, former Secretary to the Governor * Christopher O. Ward * New York State Authorities Budget Office
==Further reading == *Paterson, David ''"Black, Blind, & In Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity."'' New York, New York, 2020
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{David Paterson}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearlman, Jeffrey}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Albany, New York Category:State University of New York at New Paltz alumni Category:Albany Law School alumni Category:Lawyers from Albany, New York