Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor is a lifelong public servant who was elected Civil Court Judge in Bronx County in November 2022. She sits by designation of the Chief Administrative Judge in Criminal Court handling a diverse docket of criminal matters. She is also an educator, author, and military veteran.
Born and raised in Bronx County, Judge Gonzalez-Taylor is a product of New York City public schools. Her public service journey began at the age of 19 when she enlisted as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. She holds a Juris Doctor from New York Law School, and graduated with a B.S. (magna cum laude), and M.A. from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
In 2002, she was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx, where she managed a wide range of cases, including economic crimes, arson, animal cruelty, and government corruption. In 2006, she joined the NYPD as an internal prosecutor, advising internal affairs investigators and litigating corruption charges against civilian and uniformed employees. In 2009, she transitioned to the NYC Department of Education, to serve as an Administrative Law Hearing Officer.
Judge Gonzalez-Taylor continues her dedication to justice and education by teaching as an adjunct professor at Monroe University in the Bronx and mentoring aspiring legal professionals through various bar associations. She also mentors aspiring judges through the Franklin H. Williams Commission’s Judicial Mentorship Program.
Judge Gonzalez-Taylor has a demonstrated history of community and civic engagement, having served in congressional military academy nominating committees and advocating for literacy and cultural programs in Bronx County through local non-profits. She continues, while serving on the bench, to be committed to community empowerment by volunteering with a local veterans’ organization and serving on the New York State Bar Association’s Judicial Wellness Committee. Judge Gonzalez-Taylor is the recipient of a State Assembly proclamation and citation of merit from the Bronx Borough President as well as various awards from community-based organizations for her community service.
