NEW YORK — The case surrounding alleged corruption by New York Mayor Eric Adams has now landed in the hands of Dale E. Ho, a relatively new federal judge in Manhattan. Adams’ lawyer has made requests, officials from Donald Trump’s Justice Department have weighed in, and seven prosecutors have resigned due to disagreements over the case’s future. Now it falls to Ho to determine whether the case against Adams will continue or be dismissed.
This situation represents a significant test for Ho, whose legal background includes being an Ivy League-educated civil rights attorney and law educator. His decision will reflect the Division of Justice’s shifting priorities compared to the arguments made by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who maintain that Adams should answer for supposed bribes and illegal campaign contributions connected to foreign entities.
Ho, who has shown independence in his judicial role, is inviting both parties—Adams included—to a court appearance this Wednesday. He aims to delve into the motivations behind the Justice Department’s desire to drop the case and to clarify Adams’ stance on this development. High-ranking Justice Department official Emil Bove has expressed a wish for the case to be dismissed, partly to promote Adams’ cooperation on immigration matters under Trump’s directives. In contrast, two prosecutors who recently resigned opposing the case’s dismissal argue that this stance resembles a “quid pro quo,” an assertion that Adams’ legal representation contests.
Rather than swiftly signing off on the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss, Ho is taking a thoughtful approach. He seeks clarity on the intentions behind Bove’s intervention and is gathering input from both sides as he contemplates his available options for addressing the case.
Colleagues have praised Ho for his thoroughness. David D. Cole, who once led the ACLU’s national legal efforts and worked with Ho on voting rights issues, stated that he exhibits an unwavering commitment to justice. Cole underscored Ho’s capability to navigate the responsibilities of his judicial role while understanding its boundaries.
Ho was appointed to his position by President Joe Biden in September 2021, yet his civil rights advocacy, along with his candid criticism of conservative figures on social media, resulted in a prolonged and challenging confirmation journey. His past roles include volunteer work for Obama’s 2008 campaign and positions with several influential organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
During his confirmation hearings, Ho faced critical remarks from some Senators. Senator Ted Cruz characterized him as “extreme partisan,” while Senator John Kennedy suggested that Ho, despite his intelligence, seemed to resonate with anger. Ho responded by assuring the Senate that his primary goal was to ensure fair treatment for all in his courtroom.
Following the midterm elections, Ho’s nomination was resubmitted and ultimately confirmed in June 2023 with a narrow party-line vote. Upon taking his seat on the bench, he had been presiding for about a year when Adams’ corruption allegations reached his court.
Legal precedent reveals that while historically cases could be dismissed automatically, since 1944 judges must now grant approval for such actions. Ho’s role is further complicated as the Justice Department dismisses its pursuit of the case. In a resignation letter, former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon referred to a prior ruling in 1977 where a dismissal request was denied by a judge in the same court due to concerns about public interest.
Applying a firm approach, Ho has previously ruled against Adams, denying a motion to dismiss one of the bribery charges and addressing concerns over grand jury leaks when he determined that Adams failed to provide compelling evidence.
As a child of Filipino immigrants, Ho grew up in San Jose, California, and has contributed to city governance by serving on a commission addressing campaign financing limits. His family history includes his grandfather, who fought valiantly in World War II, giving Ho a unique perspective on democracy and its fragility, as noted by Senator Chuck Schumer, who backed Ho’s nomination.
Educated at Princeton, where he graduated summa cum laude, and Yale Law School, Ho also cultivated his legal expertise at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and worked as a law clerk. An interesting footnote to his career is Ho’s brief foray into acting, where he had a cameo in an episode of “Law & Order.”
During his directorship at the ACLU, Ho became frequently involved in high-stakes legal challenges, particularly regarding voting rights. Notably, he successfully contested the Trump administration’s initiative to include a citizenship question in the Census, and although his efforts against a policy excluding undocumented immigrants from population counts faced setbacks, the subsequent Biden administration repealed that memorandum.
