Guyana-born attorney seeks seat on Brooklyn Civil Court bench

Guyana-born attorney Michelle R. DeSouza-Forte is seeking election to the Kings County (Brooklyn) Civil Court, saying her legal experience, commitment to public service and desire for greater representation in the judicial system have motivated her candidacy.

DeSouza-Forte, who is currently on leave from her position as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department, is facing Janice Purvis for a judgeship in Brooklyn's 6th Municipal District in the Democratic Primary on June 23.

“I want to become a judge not only because of my legal experience but also because I am guided by a deep sense of fairness and representation and a desire to serve my community,” DeSouza-Forte told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

She said her work as a solo practitioner extended beyond providing legal services to educating residents about estate planning and the importance of advance directives such as powers of attorney.

“Additionally, as a defense attorney, I have not encountered many judges or attorneys who look like me in the courtroom. I am often one of the few women or the only minority attorney in the courtroom,” she said.

“As a judge of Caribbean descent, I would bring diversity to a legal system where people of color are disproportionately represented on the bench. As a wife and mother, I would apply the law through the prism of compassionate integrity, treating all litigants fairly in every decision I make.”

Early voting in the Democratic Primary began on June 13 and continues through June 21.

DeSouza-Forte said she views judicial office as an opportunity to continue serving her community and addressing gaps in public awareness about legal issues.

She recalled helping a close family friend whose relatives were unable to access her accounts while she was hospitalized because the necessary legal documents had not been prepared.

“After assisting a close family friend, whose family lacked access to her accounts while she was hospitalized, I began conducting estate planning seminars in churches, libraries and homes,” she said. “I saw a need and aimed to fill it.”

Having immigrated from Guyana in 1985 at the age of 15, DeSouza-Forte said her Caribbean upbringing continues to shape her commitment to fairness, service and community engagement.

“As a Caribbean woman, I know firsthand the struggles that marginalized groups face, and my background has instilled in me patience, perspective and a deep respect for the power of education and representation,” she said.

She added that her election would demonstrate the importance of representation in the judiciary and serve as an inspiration to members of her community.

One of nine children, DeSouza-Forte said she learned the values of responsibility, perseverance and sacrifice from an early age.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in Japanese Studies from the University at Albany, State University of New York, before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

While in law school, she earned certificates of merit in business organizations and international law and served as a Student Bar Association senator on the Budget and Finance Committee.

DeSouza-Forte said her legal career spans 14 years in both private practice and public service. Since May 2022, she has served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department.

With the backing of community leaders and voters in the district, she said she remains confident about her chances on Primary Election Day.

“With the support of community leaders and the voters in the 6th Municipal District, I strongly believe that I will be elected a Civil Court judge,” she said.