True mentors
Speakers at the induction included Hon. Genine Edwards, Hon. Kathy King, Hon. Neil Jon Firetog, Hon. Lillian Wan, Chief Clerk Charles Small and Hon. Ellen Spokek, who administered the oath of office. The master of ceremonies was Jeanette Mercedes.
Chen referred to all of the speakers as “true mentors” who have helped and continue to help the next generation of courthouse staff.
“Judge King for many years taught me what is appropriate and what is not appropriate with regard to the courts,” Chen said. “I’ve gone to her many times for advice.”
She described Firetog as a “fantastic inspiration” and Small as “a great friend.” Edwards, Chen pointed out, has a number of mentorship programs, bringing a great deal of the younger generation into the legal profession.
Hon. Janice Chen alongside her family. Photo by Mario BelluomoBackground
Chen, a court attorney for more than 20 years in Kings County Supreme Court, has worked in numerous specialized court parts. In the Central Compliance Part, Chen played a critical role in pre-trial preparation of cases where she assisted attorneys in resolving discovery issues and drafted proposed orders for court review.
From January 2004 through December 2016 and August 2023 through December 2025, she was assigned to the Guardianship Part, working with various stakeholders to protect the rights of incapacitated individuals who have a court appointed guardian and are unable to care for their personal needs and manage their financial affairs.
In 2014, Chen was recognized as Employee of the Year by the Unified Court System for her accomplishments and received the prestigious Nathan Sobel Award for dedication to the courts by the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA).
A daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Chen is a member of the Asian-Jade society, which encourages cultural understanding for Asian-Pacific lawyers in the court system. She is also a member of the BBA, Columbian Lawyers, Queens County Bar Association, and the Queens and Brooklyn Women’s Bar Associations.