Karen Burstein
Encyclopedia
Karen Burstein is a politician and former judge from New York
. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General
in 1994.
. Her mother, the late Beatrice Burstein, was a judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Nassau County. Her father, the late Herbert Burstein, Esq., was a prominent labor relations attorney. Her sister, Patricia Burstein, was an editor for People Magazine before she went on to author biographies. Patricia's twin sister, Ellen, was a television news anchor but suffered from multiple sclerosis which hampered her ability to carry on. Her younger sister, Jessica Burstein, is a photographer who made the news some years ago when, as the first female photographer at NBC, she was linked to an incident with Frank Sinatra. Jessica later became the photographer for the Law & Order franchise, has had several books published, has had museum exhibitions, including George Eastman House and has recently completed work as the commissioned fine arts photographer for the new Yankee Stadium.
Burstein's younger brother is an actor and children's health advocate known as Slim Goodbody
. Burstein's other brother, Judd Burstein, is a successful lawyer and the owner of Judd Burstein, P.C. He started off as a criminal defense lawyer in New York City but has now moved into the civil side of the law. He has represented a number of high-profile individuals and companies, including Oscar de La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Lennox Lewis, Donald Trump, the Westport Country Playhouse and the Office of the New York City Comptroller.
Burstein served as a state senator
representing Queens in the 1970s. She later moved into the administration of former Gov. Mario Cuomo
as the Chairwoman and Executive Director of the State Consumer Protection Board. Burstein then served as the Auditor General of New York City and then as a Judge of the New York City Family Court.
Burstein resigned her judgeship in 1994 to seek the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. In the primary she faced Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell
, Brooklyn District Attorney
Charles Hynes, and former prosecutor Eliot Spitzer
. She won the primary and faced former U.S. Attorney Dennis Vacco
of Buffalo
in the general election. A week before the election, then Staten Island Borough President
Guy Molinari
announced that she was not qualified to serve as attorney general because she is a lesbian
. The combination of Molinari's remarks, a strong national Republican showing, and the win of George Pataki
in the governor's race, lead to Vacco narrowly defeating Burstein.
Burstein has since become an attorney in New York City. She unsuccessfully sought the office of Judge of the New York County Surrogate's Court since her defeat in the attorney general's race. In June 2006, she endorsed former White House staffer Sean Patrick Maloney
for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general.
She is currently a practicing attorney and an adjunct professor of Political Science at the State University of New York at Purchase College
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 1994.
Biography
Burstein grew up in Lawrence, Nassau County, New YorkLawrence, Nassau County, New York
Lawrence is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 6,483.The Village of Lawrence is in the southwest corner of the Town of Hempstead, adjoining the border with the New York City borough of Queens to the west and near the...
. Her mother, the late Beatrice Burstein, was a judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Nassau County. Her father, the late Herbert Burstein, Esq., was a prominent labor relations attorney. Her sister, Patricia Burstein, was an editor for People Magazine before she went on to author biographies. Patricia's twin sister, Ellen, was a television news anchor but suffered from multiple sclerosis which hampered her ability to carry on. Her younger sister, Jessica Burstein, is a photographer who made the news some years ago when, as the first female photographer at NBC, she was linked to an incident with Frank Sinatra. Jessica later became the photographer for the Law & Order franchise, has had several books published, has had museum exhibitions, including George Eastman House and has recently completed work as the commissioned fine arts photographer for the new Yankee Stadium.
Burstein's younger brother is an actor and children's health advocate known as Slim Goodbody
Slim Goodbody
Slim Goodbody is a fictional character created and performed by John Burstein. Slim is a human adult who wears a flesh-colored unitard with various tissues, organs and organ systems painted on the front in biologically-accurate locations and sizes. Burstein created the character in 1975...
. Burstein's other brother, Judd Burstein, is a successful lawyer and the owner of Judd Burstein, P.C. He started off as a criminal defense lawyer in New York City but has now moved into the civil side of the law. He has represented a number of high-profile individuals and companies, including Oscar de La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Lennox Lewis, Donald Trump, the Westport Country Playhouse and the Office of the New York City Comptroller.
Burstein served as a state senator
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
representing Queens in the 1970s. She later moved into the administration of former Gov. Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
as the Chairwoman and Executive Director of the State Consumer Protection Board. Burstein then served as the Auditor General of New York City and then as a Judge of the New York City Family Court.
Burstein resigned her judgeship in 1994 to seek the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. In the primary she faced Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell
G. Oliver Koppell
G. Oliver Koppell is a member of the New York City Council from District 11 in the Borough of The Bronx, covering the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Woodlawn, Van Cortlandt Village, Norwood, and Bedford Park. He was elected to the Council in 2001, and recently defeated Ari Hoffnung by a...
, Brooklyn District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
Charles Hynes, and former prosecutor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
. She won the primary and faced former U.S. Attorney Dennis Vacco
Dennis Vacco
Dennis C. Vacco is an American lawyer and politician. He graduated a B.A. from Colgate University in 1974, a J.D...
of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in the general election. A week before the election, then Staten Island Borough President
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
Guy Molinari
Guy Molinari
Gaetano Victor "Guy" Molinari is a former United States Representative and borough president of Staten Island, New York.-Education and Military Service:...
announced that she was not qualified to serve as attorney general because she is a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. The combination of Molinari's remarks, a strong national Republican showing, and the win of George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
in the governor's race, lead to Vacco narrowly defeating Burstein.
Burstein has since become an attorney in New York City. She unsuccessfully sought the office of Judge of the New York County Surrogate's Court since her defeat in the attorney general's race. In June 2006, she endorsed former White House staffer Sean Patrick Maloney
Sean Patrick Maloney
Sean Patrick Maloney is an American politician from New York State and, in 2006, was a Democratic candidate for state Attorney General. He is the former First Deputy Secretary to the Governor, which made him a senior adviser and Cabinet member of New York Gov. David Paterson. He also served as...
for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general.
She is currently a practicing attorney and an adjunct professor of Political Science at the State University of New York at Purchase College
1994 New York State Democratic Ticket
- Governor: Mario CuomoMario CuomoMario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
- Lieutenant Governor: Stan LundineStan LundineStanley Nelson Lundine is a politician from Jamestown, New York who served as Mayor of Jamestown, a United States Representative, and lieutenant governor of New York. A Democrat, he was inaugurated Mayor in 1970 and served to 1976 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after the...
- Comptroller: Carl McCallCarl McCallHerman Carl McCall is a former Comptroller of New York State and was the Democratic candidate for state governor in 2002. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for numerous corporations. He received a B.A. degree from Dartmouth...
- Attorney General: Karen Burstein
- U.S. Senate: Daniel Patrick MoynihanDaniel Patrick MoynihanDaniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...