Brooklyn leaders and community members are mourning the loss of Hon. Babatunde Akowe, a Justice of the New York City Civil Court in Kings County’s 2nd Municipal District. Akowe, who was elected to the bench in November 2023 and began his 10-year term in January 2024, died unexpectedly over the weekend.
Born in Crown Heights, Akowe dedicated his life to advancing equity through policy. He was a graduate of Lincoln University, Temple University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. A proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Lincoln, Akowe was deeply committed to its mission of service. During his tenure on the Civil Court, he remained active in community engagement as a member of Community Board 3.
In a statement, Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn reflected on Akowe’s lasting impact on the borough and the city.
“His life and judicial service were cut way too short,” she said.
“Today, we honor Judge Akowe’s lifelong service to NYC and in Brooklyn, where he was born and raised. We celebrate his prolific legal career, which began at the Brooklyn DA’s Office before serving in the NY State Unified Court System, NYC Council, Department of Corrections, NYC Employees’ Retirement System, NYS Governor’s Office and NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection,” she continued.
“Judge Akowe will forever be remembered as a leader who always advocated for our communities with dedication and integrity. Our hearts go out to his family — his wife and two daughters — during this most difficult time.”
Council Member Farah Louis also shared her condolences, remembering Akowe as both a mentor and a friend.
“Babatunde was an inspiration and a dedicated public servant committed to justice and service,” Louis wrote on Instagram.
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“Earlier this year, Babatunde invited me to join his fraternity brothers to distribute coats and supplies on MLK Day. His commitment to uplifting our community was evident in everything he did — from his work on the bench to his hands-on service in the streets of Brooklyn,” she went on. “He embodied the spirit of servant leadership, always putting others first and working tirelessly to create pathways of opportunity for those who needed it most.”
Louis extended her “deepest condolences to his wife, his daughters Adia and Amara, and his village of family, friends, colleagues and fraternity brothers who loved him dearly.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James also honored Akowe’s legacy, writing on X that he was “a pillar of our community.”
“We lost him far too soon,” James wrote. “From his legal work to his mentorship of young Black men, he was a fierce leader. I am lifting his wife and children in prayer.”
Details on services have not yet been released.
