Hon. Lisa S. Headley, born and raised in NYCHA in Brooklyn, New York, has been an employee of the Unified Court System for over 35 years. Judge Headley began her career typing decisions for housing and civil court judges. She worked full-time while also attending college. Judge Headley took promotional exams becoming an associate court clerk and later was convinced to go to law school by her former boss who said, “time is going to pass anyway, you might as well.” Judge Headley worked as a court attorney in Housing (landlord/tenant) court for approximately 14 years.
Justice Headley attended Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, where she served as an editor on the school’s law review until her graduation in 2001.
She was elected to New York City Civil Court in 2015, after running a campaign and winning the primary for the Civil Court seat in the 8th Municipal District. From January 2016 to January 2019, Hon. Headley was an Acting Justice of the Family Court, in Bronx County presiding over Custody, Visitation, Guardianship and Family Offense proceedings. From January 2019 to August 2020, Hon. Headley sat in Civil Court, New York County, hearing no fault matters, small claims matters, commercial landlord/tenant disputes and name change petitions. Currently, Hon. Headley is an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in New York County, where she presided over the Motor Vehicle Part and is currently assigned to an Individual Assignment Part, dealing with matters such as defamation, Article 78 petitions, Article 75 petitions and commercial landlord/tenant matters.
Justice Lisa Headley has been an adjunct faculty professor since September of 2019. She has taught Family Law, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and Prisons: Punishment and Rehabilitation in America classes.