Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky Joins the Bench

On July 1, 2025, Clay Kaminsky was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Magistrate Judge Kaminsky recently spoke with the Federal Bar Council Quarterly about his career and his journey to the bench.

Raised in Indiana, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky studied linguistics at Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude with highest honors in 2005. Magistrate Judge Kaminsky then earned his law degree, magna cum laude, in 2009 from the New York University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Law and Politics. Although he initially imagined a career in academia, he found himself drawn to the practice of law. 

EARLY CAREER

After law school, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky spent a year practicing at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. 

Thereafter, in 2010-11, he clerked for Judge Allyne Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, whom he describes as a “wonderful judge, teacher and mentor.” He found the Eastern District court to be a “happy, familial place” and enjoyed the clerkship. 

The next year, in 2011-12, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky completed a second clerkship – this time for Judge Juilo Fuentes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He describes this experience as equally valuable, though he notes that the appellate clerkship offered a different experience – it had a slower pace and was more academic. Magistrate Judge Kaminsky credits both clerkships for inspiring his own desire to one day serve as a judge.

After his clerkships, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky returned to Debevoise, concentrating his practice on commercial litigation and international arbitration. He came to prefer litigation over arbitration. “Arbitration proceedings are less formal and the rules of evidence do not apply.” In contrast, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky explained, “there are often precise rules in litigation; I enjoyed applying the rules.”

FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENSE WORK

While at the firm, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky had the opportunity for a half-year secondment to the Federal Defenders of New York (Federal Defenders). This role was transformative for many reasons. Magistrate Judge Kaminsky found public defense work profoundly meaningful and fulfilling. He also appreciated working with individual clients, appearing regularly in court, handling a wide variety of criminal cases and exercising significant autonomy in a fast-paced environment. His experience as a secondee led him to join the Federal Defenders full-time, serving as a trial attorney for over ten years until his appointment to the Eastern District bench in 2025.

ON THE BENCH

In a full circle moment, on July 1, 2025, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky was sworn in by Judge Ross surrounded by friends, family, and colleagues. He shared this event with Magistrate Judge Seth Eichenholtz, who was also sworn in as a magistrate judge that same day. “It was a wonderful experience,” he said. 

Following the start of his tenure on the bench, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky now looks forward to helping parties resolve civil disputes and handling criminal cases from a neutral perspective. He believes that his public defense background will assist him in communicating with litigants of all backgrounds – particularly pro se litigants – and rendering thoughtful decisions. Magistrate Judge Kaminsky also praises the collegiality of his judicial colleagues, who have provided helpful guidance. When asked what values he hopes to import in his new role, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky stated that he “wants parties [appearing before him] to feel heard. Even if they do not obtain their desired outcome,” he hopes “they will feel they have been treated with dignity and respect.” 

BEYOND THE COURTROOM

Beyond the courtroom, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky enjoys gardening, fermenting, biking, camping, and spending time with his two young children. Balancing a demanding, yet rewarding, career with a family requires “intentionality,” he reflected. For young attorneys wishing to succeed in their careers, Magistrate Judge Kaminsky’s advice is simple: be prepared and have a good command of the facts of the case.