Join President Karol V. Mason in conversation with The Honorable Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of New York State

In April 2023, the Governor nominated and the New York State Senate confirmed Judge Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York. He is the first African American chief judge in the Court’s 176-year history.

Wilson was born in Pomona, California in 1960, and grew up in Berkeley, California. He received his A.B. degree from Harvard College in 1981, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1984. He was admitted to the bar of the State of California in 1985, and the bar of the State of New York in 1987. From 1984 to 1986, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, based in San Francisco, California.

In 1986, he joined the firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City as an associate, and was elected to partnership there in 1991, in which position he continued until February 2017. While in private practice, Judge Wilson served on the boards of several charitable and not-for-profit organizations and handled numerous pro bono matters.

To support informed participation in our democracy the College provides access to public officials in their official capacity and candidates without regard to political party affiliation or policy views. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the College.

For questions, contact jlorenzo@jjay.cuny.edu.