Incoming OATH Commissioner Asim Rehman. Image Credit: OATH.
Rehman is the first Muslim-American to serve as OATH Commissioner. On March 29, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced Asim Rehman had been selected as the next Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). OATH serves as the City’s administrative law court, which handles the adjudication of issues referred by City agencies, summonses from City agencies, and other topics including but not limited to employee discipline, City-issued license and regulatory enforcement, zoning and loft violations, and civil asset forfeiture.
Asim Rehman is a Staten Island native who graduated from Haverford College and the University of Michigan Law School.
Rehman started as a federal law clerk in the Southern District of New York. He then practiced law at two firms, where he handled matters such as complex litigation, white-collar criminal defense, internal and government investigations, anti-corruption cases, and a variety of pro bono cases. His pro bono work includes serving as a pro bono special assistant district attorney in Brooklyn. Rehman later joined MetLife as corporate counsel, where he handled domestic matters, regulatory compliance and overseas litigation.
In 2014,Rehman started as general counsel for the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Investigation for the New York City Police Department. He was later appointed first deputy inspector general. In 2020, he joined the Law Department as chief of staff, where he supported the Law Department’s work in providing legal guidance during the pandemic.
Most recently, Rehman served as deputy commissioner for legal matters and general counsel at the Department of Correction. Rehman is also an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where he teaches “Law, Public Policy & Social Change,” a course about the role of lawyers in movements for social change and advancing public policy.
As Commissioner of OATH, Rehman will report to Brendan McGuire, chief counsel to Mayor Adams and City Hall. Rehman is the first Muslim-American and first person of South Asian descent to serve as the Commissioner of OATH.
Mayor Adams stated, “In order for our city to operate effectively and carry out its core functions, we need fair, expeditious, and just administrative trials and hearings. 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.”
Incoming Commissioner Rehman stated, “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. 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.”
Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President of New York Law School, stated, “Asim Rehman embodies all the qualities the legal profession values: honor, integrity, accountability, and a deep commitment to fairness, equity, and justice. 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.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)