MBBA Members and Supporters:
The Metropolitan Black Bar Association mourns the loss of Kings County Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes. Justice Baynes passed away at the age of 64. He died due to complications relating related to COVID-19. Justice Baynes was extremely liked within the New York State Court System. He was well-known for the kindness and respect he treated showed to all parties who entered his courtroom.
Judge Baynes began his judicial career as a housing court judge in 1993. In 2005, he was elected to New York City Civil Court. He was subsequently named an Acting Supreme Court Justice in Kings County, and in 2011, elected Supreme Court Justice in Kings County, Supreme Court. Prior to joining the bench, he was a staff attorney for the NYC Housing Authority, District Council 37, and the Municipal Employees Legal Services Plan. Justice Baynes is a graduate of Fordham University and Howard University School of Law. He is survived by his daughter Jolie and ex-wife Pamela Thomas.
For more information on the life of Justice Johnny Lee Baynes, we encourage you to read this article written by Rob Abruzzese and Mary Frost in
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
