Q&A with Civil Court Candidate Thomas Wright Fernandez
A Conversation on Justice, Immigration, and Queens
On Monday morning, The Civic Pulse spoke with Queens County Civil Court Judge candidate Thomas Wright Fernandez to pick his brain about New York City's upcoming judicial elections.
Elected by local voters, Civil Court judges oversee thousands of cases that touch upon New Yorkers’ daily lives, including personal injury lawsuits and contract and property disputes under $50,000. They may also preside over misdemeanor cases in Criminal Court and child support and custody-related cases in Family Court.
During our 20-minute interview, Fernandez, a Democratic Party candidate, walked us through his professional and personal background and why he wants to serve on one of the busiest courts in The World's Borough.
He emphasized his deep love for the borough and his special focus on immigration issues at a time when many new Americans’ rights have come under threat.
Let's get into it:
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
The Civic Pulse: First things first, can you tell us who you are and what you do?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: I'm a principal law clerk at the Queens Treatment Court, [a branch of the criminal court system].
Before that, I worked for an investment bank and then a large Manhattan law firm focusing on finance law and transactions. But, I left to start [my own] law firm because I wanted to serve my community.
[From there], I did immigration removal defense and family-based immigration for about 13 years. I understand [immigration] to be the great civil rights issue of our time.
I grew up outside Mobile, Alabama. My father was a union worker. My mother didn’t work.
My mother’s family is Spanish, so I was raised in a very close-knit family and I speak Spanish.
The Civic Pulse: You mention that you are a transplant. What brought you to New York City?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: Queens is the home I chose.
I came to New York at 20 [years old] as a Red Cross volunteer, shortly after 9/11.
I worked at the Ground Zero site from September 17th to May 1, [2001]. It was one of the darkest times in my life, and I only sustained myself by the pure encouragement of New Yorkers who were around me.
The Civic Pulse: What have your experiences in criminal court taught you about the needs of litigants in Queens?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: In criminal court, we need more community providers, more social work focused professionals and…more assessments for those who are facing severe mental illness.
The [treatment] court does a wonderful job in helping us understand what has led to criminality, as well as what type of treatment would be successful in addressing it to reduce [repeat offenses].
What we want to do is address those underlying issues as best we can, so that a person can remain healthy, lead a fulfilling life and avoid [running into trouble with] the criminal justice system.
The Civic Pulse: When you're not at court, what are you up to?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: I teach citizenship classes, which is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
I help people with civics, English, and guide them to fully participate in our society. This is a…point of pride.
The Civic Pulse: What have you learned from talking to voters and residents throughout Queens?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: I've been out [campaigning] for about five months now, and I have learned a lot about my neighbors and what is important to them.
Many people are interested in my immigration work—keeping families together, defending against removal, and helping people get documented [so they can] eventually become residents.
The Civic Pulse: You've touched upon immigration several times in our chat. Why does the topic resonate with you?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: My husband is facing anxiety being an immigrant. That's certainly there with me every day in our household.
In addition, many of my closest friends are not from the U.S. At a recent dinner party, I was the only U.S. citizen at the table.
We need to support immigrant neighbors and help them find a path to fully participate in society. That means having the right to vote.
Getting residency doesn’t mean you can vote.
It’s an extra step to naturalize [and become an American citizen], and we should encourage it…so that [foreign-born people] can fully participate [in American society] and vote.
Q: What should voters think about when voting for this position?
Thomas Wright Fernandez: The best voter is an informed voter. Voters should look at both candidates and make an informed choice.