On January 1, the Town of Brighton welcomed its inaugural Indian-American criminal judge, Vikram Vilkhu, who assumed the role as a Justice in the Brighton Town Court. Born to Indian immigrants in the U.S., Vilkhu, a Democrat, also made history as the first Sikh to be elected in New York State.
Indian American Senator Jeremy Cooney applauded Vilkhu’s candidacy in December 2023, emphasizing the importance of expanding representation for the rapidly growing Asian American minority in New York. Cooney highlighted the significance of cultural diversity in elected officials, especially for the younger generation to witness faces that resonate with their own backgrounds across all levels of government.
Vilkhu’s academic journey includes a double major in religion and anthropology at Emory University, followed by impactful contributions to the ACLU, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a national hotline for victims of racial profiling and hate crimes post-9/11. His legal education at Case Western Reserve University was marked by numerous awards, both academic and extracurricular.
Post-law school, Vilkhu served as a civilian contractor with the U.S. Army, defending enlisted soldiers facing accusations of crimes. His transition to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office involved prosecuting misdemeanor crimes and traffic offenses, leading to conducting trials across various towns in Monroe County, securing verdicts in diverse cases.
Admitted to practice law in both New York and Vermont, Vilkhu oversees a team of over 100 employees, collaborating with ten local attorneys. During his swearing-in ceremony, he reflected on his father’s journey to America, noting the remarkable transformation from being unknown to now having his last name visible on front yards, sitting alongside state senators and county executives—an inspiring testament to the opportunities in the country.
