On September 10, 2026, New York City’s Housing Courts announced the appointment of two new judges to its Bronx and Manhattan locations. The judges named to the posts are Steven Park and George Gardner III, joining the city’s Civil Court system that handles a large volume of landlord‑tenant matters.
The Bronx and Manhattan Housing Courts are components of the city’s broader Housing Courts network, which adjudicates disputes between renters and landlords, including eviction proceedings, rent‑stabilization issues, and other residential tenancy cases. Adding two judges to these courts is intended to bolster the capacity of a system that routinely processes a high number of filings.
Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas oversaw the recent wave of judicial appointments that placed the new judges within the high‑volume Civil Court. While the specific duties of the new judges have not been detailed, their placement in the housing divisions suggests they will preside over cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Housing Courts.
The appointments come as part of a broader effort to staff the Civil Court’s housing docket, which has seen increasing demand in recent years. By assigning Judge Park and Judge Gardner III to the Bronx and Manhattan courts respectively, the city aims to reduce backlogs and provide more timely resolutions for tenants and landlords alike.
Both judges will operate under the administrative framework of the New York City Civil Court, adhering to the procedural rules that govern housing litigation. Their roles will involve hearing hearings, issuing rulings, and managing case flow within their assigned boroughs, contributing to the overall efficiency of the city’s housing dispute resolution system.