Hon. Sharon A.M. Aarons is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department. She was appointed to the Appellate Division by Governor Cuomo in 2016. Aarons held the distinction of being the first woman of color appointed to the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department.
At the time of her appointment, she was serving as a justice of the Bronx County Supreme Court in the Twelfth Judicial District of New York. Aarons was elected to the seat in 2009. She also served as a judge for the Civil Court in the City of New York in Bronx County beginning in 2003.
Aarons received a B.A. in political science and sociology from New York University in 1986. She went on to earn a J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law in 1989.
After law school, Aarons began her legal career as a trial attorney in the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. Upon her departure from the Legal Aid Society, Aarons became a principal law clerk to the Hon. Alexander Hunter, Jr., justice of the New York State Supreme Court in 1994.
After completing her clerkship in 1998, she entered into private practice at the Law Office of William A. Gallina, where she specialized in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. Then, in 2000, Aarons became a principal law clerk to the Hon. Lee Holzman, surrogate of the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court. She remained in that capacity until her election to the Civil Court bench.
Aarons also taught as an adjunct professor at Pace Law School, Lehman College, and Bronx Community College.
She served as a president, chairwoman, and board member of the Black Bar Association of Bronx County and as chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Highbridge Advisory Council Family Services, Inc.
Aarons was also appointed to serve as a member of the New York State Unified Court System’s Special Commission on Fiduciary Appointments.