New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Asim Rehman as commissioner and chief administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Rehman will be the first Muslim-American and the first person of South Asian descent to lead OATH. He currently serves as deputy commissioner for legal matters and general counsel at the New York City Department of Correction (DOC).
In his role, Rehman will deepen OATH’s mission of adjudicating city matters fairly, resolving conflicts within city agencies, and providing inclusive and equitable access to justice. He will also help deliver on Mayor Adams’ vision of a more just and efficient administration of city services.
“In order for our city to operate effectively and carry out its core functions, we need fair, expeditious, and just administrative trials and hearings,” said Mayor Adams. “Asim Rehman is a proven reformer, who will bring his legal expertise and keen understanding of city government to his new role at OATH, and I’m proud to announce his appointment.”
“The work that OATH does is critical to the mission of making our city fairer, more inclusive, and more equitable,” said Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall Brendan McGuire. “Asim Rehman has not only impeccable legal credentials, but also a deep commitment to public service and fidelity to the law. I look forward to working with him to further OATH’s mission.”
“I am thrilled and honored to receive this appointment, and I look forward to working with OATH’s dedicated public servants to further the agency’s mission,” said incoming OATH Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge Asim Rehman. “Through the sound administration of trials and hearings and a thoughtful approach to conflict resolution, OATH helps New York City meet its goal of being not only the greatest city, but also the fairest and most just city. I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for this humbling opportunity.”
“Asim Rehman is an exemplary public servant with an unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law,” said Dr. Sarah Sayeed, chair and executive director, New York City Civic Engagement Commission. “He is also a compassionate person and a community builder. I am excited to see what OATH will become under his leadership.”
“I have known Asim for a decade and a half as a law colleague, a civil rights advocate, a leading light of the bar, and my chief of staff at the Law Department,” said Jim Johnson, former corporation counsel, New York City Law Department. “He is a fearless public servant with a gravitas beyond his years and an eye always turned toward doing right, particularly for the most vulnerable. Justice is his north star, fresh thinking is his key approach, and compassion is his foundation. He will be a terrific commissioner at OATH.”
“I congratulate Asim Rehman on his appointment as the new commissioner of OATH,” said Philip Eure, former inspector general, New York City Police Department (NYPD). “From his time working with me, I can say that Asim is a talented lawyer with a keen intellect and attention to detail that will serve the city well as he takes on this new responsibility. Asim will further ensure that justice is administered fairly in ways that will improve how the city functions.”
“My deepest congratulations to Asim Rehman as the next commissioner of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings,” said Dr. Debbie Almontaser, CEO and founder, Bridging Cultures Group. “I can’t think of a better person to head this office than Asim Rehman. He has been a staunch advocate for justice as a lawyer in the private and public sector. As a New York City public servant, Asim has taken on tremendous challenges with skill, heart, and a steady hand, always putting the people first. While in the private sector, Asim put in countless hours working with me and other community advocates to improve the lives of New Yorkers, all outside of his day job. I commend Mayor Adams on his quest to create an administration reflecting the diversity of our beloved city.”
“The Muslim Bar Association of New York congratulates Asim Rehman on his appointment as the new commissioner and chief administrative law judge at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings,” said Sania Khan, president, Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY). “Asim is a brilliant attorney and a compassionate leader, who will undoubtedly execute this role with equity and fairness in mind. As a founding member and former president of MuBANY, Asim has always been dedicated to advancing the voices of underrepresented communities, and we look forward to all the good work he will continue to do through this role.”
“New York City is fortunate to land such a wise, clear-thinking, hard-working, and dedicated public servant for the important role of commissioner and chief administrative law judge of OATH,” said John Kiernan, former president, New York City Bar Association; and former co-chair of litigation, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. “Asim is both a terrific lawyer and a pragmatic manager, a powerful combination that makes him ideally suited for this major responsibility.”
“Asim Rehman embodies all the qualities the legal profession values: honor, integrity, accountability, and a deep commitment to fairness, equity, and justice,” said Anthony Crowell, dean and president, New York Law School; and former counselor to former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “As our city’s chief administrative law judge, I know his exceptional leadership skills and keen intellect will enable OATH to continue its mission with the highest degree of professional excellence and public confidence. I have known and worked with Asim for many years and seen firsthand his deep commitment to the rule of law, the transformative influence he has on those he teaches, and the care he has for the people of our great city whom he serves. I am excited to congratulate and support him on this extraordinary and historic appointment. I also extend my congratulations to Mayor Adams for his vision and commitment to this vitally important agency.”
“Mayor Adams has made a superb choice in naming Asim Rehman as OATH commissioner. I was fortunate to have Asim as a law clerk shortly after he graduated from law school and have followed his impressive career since then,” said John S. Martin, Jr., retired federal district court judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. “He is an outstanding lawyer and, as his record indicates, he has a strong commitment to public service. He is not only a great lawyer, but also an outstanding human being who will see that everyone who comes before his office will be treated with fairness and respect.”
“The South Asian Bar Association of New York proudly celebrates Asim Rehman's appointment as commissioner of OATH, and we thank Mayor Eric Adams for continuing to promote our very best lawyers to positions of authority,” said L. Austin D’Souza, president, South Asian Bar Association of New York. “Asim has been a leader in the South Asian legal community for decades. He is a seasoned manager, problem solver, and highly skilled lawyer. We have full confidence that he will excel in this new role.”
About Asim Rehman
Asim Rehman will serve as commissioner of OATH. Rehman currently serves as deputy commissioner for legal matters and general counsel at the New York City Department of Correction, where he oversees the agency’s legal operations and provides advice and counsel to agency leadership.
In 2020, Rehman joined the New York City Law Department as chief of staff. As a member of the executive team, Rehman supported the Law Department’s efforts to provide legal guidance to the city throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rehman joined city government in 2014 as general counsel for the new Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Investigation for the NYPD. As general counsel and later first deputy inspector general, Rehman helped build this independent oversight office from the ground up, managed legal operations, supervised investigations, and oversaw the release of critical reports aimed at reforming the NYPD.
Rehman began his legal career as a federal law clerk in the Southern District of New York and then practiced law with two law firms, handling complex litigation, white-collar criminal defense, internal and government investigations, anti-corruption matters, and a broad range of pro bono cases. During this time, he also served as a pro bono special assistant district attorney in Brooklyn. Rehman later worked as corporate counsel for MetLife, where he litigated a broad range of domestic matters, assisted the company with regulatory compliance, and helped manage the corporation’s overseas litigation.
Rehman is an adjunct professor of law at New York Law School, where he teaches “Law, Public Policy & Social Change.”
A Staten Island native, Rehman is a graduate of Haverford College and the University of Michigan Law School.
Rehman will report to Brendan McGuire, chief counsel to the mayor and City Hall.
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