DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Kings County Clerk, Commissioner of Jurors and Supreme Court Clerk Hon. Nancy T. Sunshine has always been a strong proponent of helping people. Throughout her career, she has kept community and civic duty at the forefront.
In an exclusive interview with the Brooklyn Eagle, Sunshine spoke about her beginnings, career path and love of Brooklyn.
Hon. Sunshine is the first woman to serve as county clerk and commissioner of jurors of Kings County. Photo: Wayne Daren Schneiderman/Brooklyn Eagle
Sunshine, the first woman to serve as county clerk and commissioner of jurors in Kings County, said she “toyed with the idea” of psychology in college as a possible profession. During an election cycle, she served as a volunteer poll watcher in Manhattan, which gave her a firsthand appreciation for voters’ rights.
“I saw how important it was to know your rights and also be privy to election laws,” she said. “That really inspired me.”
Born and raised in the Bronx, Sunshine graduated from Hofstra University School of Law and was the first lawyer in her family. “I spent 12 years in parochial school and realized the significance that education has on your life,” she said.
Sunshine began her legal career in the office of the District Attorney of New York County in 1981. She also served in the Trial Division of that office as an assistant district attorney from 1981 to 1987. Later, she worked in the Appeals Bureau from 1987 to 1988.
From 1988 to 1998, Sunshine was the principal law clerk to Hon. Gloria Cohen Aronin, justice of the Kings County Supreme Court and judge of the Appellate Term for the Second and 11th Judicial Districts. The position with Aronin gave her the opportunity to read all the appellate decisions and learn how the court system functioned.
Hon. Nancy Sunshine oversees one of New York State’s busiest county clerk’s offices, managing court records, supervising jury administration, recording official documents and helping ensure the efficient operation of the judicial system in Brooklyn. Photo: Wayne Daren Schneiderman/Brooklyn Eagle
“Judge Aronin was a lovely person to work with,” Sunshine said. “She was incredibly inspirational, and I learned a tremendous amount from her, including an overall respect for the rule of law.”
Sunshine held the position of law clerk until an opening came up in 1998 for the chief clerk of the Appellate Term. In 1998, she was appointed by the then-presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, Hon. Guy James Mangano, as chief clerk of the Appellate Term for the Second, Ninth, 10th and 11th Judicial Districts.
Sunshine ascended to her current position in 2005. As Kings County clerk, clerk of the Supreme Court and commissioner of jurors, Sunshine oversees one of New York State’s busiest county clerk’s offices, managing court records, supervising jury administration, recording official documents and helping ensure the efficient operation of the judicial system in Brooklyn.
Sunshine on Brooklyn: ‘We are a gem’
Jury duty can often bring feelings of nervousness and anxiety, and Sunshine emphasized the importance of communication, education and transparency.
“The key is understanding how the system works and exposing yourself to it,” she explained. “Meet with your neighbors in Brooklyn and talk with them about their experiences. Our democracy is a beautiful thing, and jury duty provides an opportunity for people to play a meaningful role in that process.”
Sunshine also spoke about how the county clerk role changed during her tenure. E-filing, the process of submitting legal documents to the court electronically rather than filing paper documents in person, has been especially impactful.
“E-filing has transformed the way legal documents are processed in Kings County,” Sunshine said. “Things are way more efficient this way, and there is no question about how a case is proceeding.”
Kings County Clerk, Clerk of the Supreme Court and Commissioner of Jurors Hon. Nancy T. Sunshine. Photo: Wayne Daren Schneiderman/Brooklyn Eagle
Sunshine said her favorite thing about the position is unequivocally the people. “I love making a positive impact on people’s lives and ensuring they leave with a rewarding experience,” she said.
She also gave a nod to her staff, who she said “genuinely care and are terrific listeners.”
Sunshine currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband, Hon. Jeffrey S. Sunshine, the statewide coordinating judge for matrimonial matters. “We both travel along the highway of justice, but in separate lanes,” Nancy Sunshine said with a smile.
Sunshine referred to Brooklyn as “a gem.”
“Within Kings County, every community is its own gem,” she said.
In her spare time, Sunshine said she enjoys listening to music, reading, taking nature walks and observing the beauty of her city.