The Honorable John G. Ingram is well-known and respected as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on maritime matters. Beyond his maritime expertise, Judge Ingram has a distinguished background handling complex civil and criminal cases. Since joining NAM, Justice Ingram has arbitrated and mediated numerous matters relating to seafarer law. His experience includes maritime law, Jones Act claims, personal injury, and property damage disputes. He has also handled salvage claims, including one matter involving a stranded yacht.

Judge Ingram began his legal career in private practice in 1969. After more than three decades as a practicing attorney affiliated with various NY law firms, he was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in 2003 by Governor George Pataki.

As a sitting judge, he handled civil litigation cases in which plaintiffs sought damages against the State of New York or State-related entities. These included matters of wrongful death, negligence, torts, and breach of contract. Thereafter, he was assigned to the Supreme Court, Bronx County Narcotics and Trial Part and then reassigned to the Supreme Court, Kings County, Trial Part, Criminal Division. As a judge in the Criminal Division for nine years, Judge Ingram oversaw more than 200 felony trials to verdict, including those that involved sexual abuse, rape, kidnapping, torture, and assault. He has experience rendering Molineux decisions, as well as determinations in evidentiary hearings. Judge Ingram has also handled cases that were high profile and have garnered attention in the media.

In 2017, Judge Ingram was appointed as an Acting Surrogate Judge, Kings County, where he oversaw more than three hundred estate cases and settled multiple contested estate matters. Two years later, Judge Ingram was reassigned to the Supreme Court, Kings County. Judge Ingram was assigned to Queens Supreme Court (Civil) to oversee a voter recount of the Democratic primary election for Queens District Attorney and sat as Acting Surrogate Judge of Richmond County overseeing estate matters. He remained Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, until his retirement in December 2019.

Judge Ingram has served as an arbitrator in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, where he heard personal injury matters, and the Civil Court of the City of New York, where he heard cases involving contracts, property damage, and personal injury. Additionally, he has served as a commercial arbitrator for many commercial cases throughout New York. An avid supporter of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Judge Ingram’s experience on the bench, combined with the time spent as a maritime litigator in private practice, gives him the ability to approach matters in an unbiased manner and guide parties and counsel to a fair and impartial resolution.

Judge Ingram is well-known as one of the nation’s foremost experts on maritime matters. His interest and deep understanding of maritime law stems back to his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York Maritime College. After graduation, he joined the United States Naval Reserve and sailed on his license aboard U.S. flag freighters, containerships, and passenger liners as a Third and Second Mate. In the 31 years with the U.S. Naval Reserve, Judge Ingram served on board two aircraft carriers, a landing platform helicopter ship (LPH), an oiler (tanker) and a destroyer escort. He served as commanding officer of five reserve units including Military Sealift Command Northern United Kingdom. He holds a third mate’s license for Continuity issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Judge Ingram also served as Pilot Commissioner of the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the State of New York for six years.

Judge Ingram served as a Member of the Boards of Maritime College Foundation at Fort Schuyler, the Alumni Association of the New York State Maritime College, The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn and Vice President and board member of the Brooklyn Benevolent Society. He is a member of the Association of the U.S. Navy, the BAYFORTS, NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Marine Society of the City of New York. He is also an Honorary Usher at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

Judge Ingram is a native New Yorker, born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, educated in Brooklyn, and the Bronx. He is an active member of the New York State Fire Chiefs, a volunteer firefighter and member of the Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department since 1958, and was appointed to the Advisory Board of the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation, LTD. He is also an Honorary Battalion Chief in the Fire Department of New York.