A controversial Bronx judge notorious for letting accused killers loose on the streets is looking for a big promotion, The Post has learned.

Soft-on-crime Judge Naita Semaj, of the county Supreme Court, is applying to become the presiding justice overseeing all disputed criminal and civil cases in Manhattan and the Bronx, sources familiar with the deliberations said.

The post on the Appellate Division, First Department, is one of the most influential and prestigious in the New York State court system.

Cases heard by the appeals court involve violent street crimes, as well as white collar, government and commerce offenses and big ticket divorces.

In the role, Semaj — who recently released without bail a parolee charged with strangling his stepson to death — would oversee disciplinary committees and character fitness panels for lawyers.

The presiding justice sits on a powerful board overseeing the state Office of Court Administration.

Just weeks ago, Semaj added insult to injury in the case of Tyresse Minter’s alleged killing of 15-year-old Corde Scott — berating grieving mom Karen Glenn for showing up late to the arraignment just before refusing to set bail for the boy’s accused killer, freeing him.

Glenn on Wednesday slammed Semaj for seeking a promotion, while saying she wasn’t surprised the brazen, lenient jurist would attempt such a move.

“I don’t know what she’s trying to do with the job she has now when it comes to serious crimes. In my son’s case, she heard all the things that happened and then she said, `No bail,'” Glenn told The Post.

“And there are no repercussions for her. She doesn’t care. She does what she wants to do,” Glenn continued.

“So am I surprised she put in for this top judge position? No!”

Victims’ rights advocates were also outraged that Semaj could be considered for a bump of any kind — let alone to such a powerful position.

“Every criminal conviction is going to be overturned,” fumed Jennifer Harrison, founder of the Victims Right NY political action committee.

“Judge Semaj should be removed from the bench, not promoted,” said Harrison, whose boyfriend Kevin Davis was stabbed to death outside a New Jersey nightclub in 2005.

State Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk), the ranking Republican on the judiciary committee that oversees judicial nominations agreed.

“Semaj has some moxie seeking a promotion after what she did in that homicide case,” Palumbo said.

“She is someone who should be removed from the bench for lack of judgment.”

Sources familiar with the selection process said Semaj recently submitted her name for consideration for the vacant post with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s First Department Judicial Screening Committee.

Other candidates include Diane Renwick, who is the acting presiding justice for the First Department and the wife of former Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, as well as Troy Webber, an associate justice in the First Department.

All three candidates, black women, are expected to be interviewed by the judicial screening committee on Friday, sources said.  

“She’s got a lot of nerve applying for the position. It’s amazing,” a source familiar with the review said of Semaj.

Hochul’s office declined to comment, citing the confidential screening process.

But the governor — in a clear rebuke of Semaj — had Minter, 28, re-arrested after the judge released him without bail in the alleged chokehold murder of his stepson.

“My top priority is public safety,” Hochul said in a statement on April 6.

Retired Queens prosecutor James Quinn deadpanned of Semaj’s brazen request for a promotion: “At least it gets her out of doing arraignments.”

Semaj has previously drawn outrage for her criminal-friendly decisions, even once drawing a rebuke from Mayor Eric Adams for going easy on a teen accused of shooting a cop.

Last April, she also enraged the family of 21-year-old Saikou Koma when she cut loose his alleged killer, Bronx gangbanger Steven Mendez.

And in February 2022, she cut loose two teenage criminals — including one charged with murder — over the objection of the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

“There’s no way the governor can nominate her as a presiding justice. She would damage all credibility,” said Quinn.

“This is crazy,” the ex-prosecutor added.

“This is ‘in your face’ on her part. She’s saying, ‘You think what I did was bad. I think I should be promoted.’

“She’s clueless.”

Semaj, who has Jamaican roots, has strong ties to the Bronx Democratic Party establishment.

She donated two contributions totaling $650 to the Bronx Democratic Party in July 2018.

The party machine largely controls who gets on the ballot for judgeship.

She also donated $250 in 2016 to Assemblyman Michael Benedetto and $100 to Ritchie Torres in 2013, the former Bronx councilman turned congressman.

Semaj did not return a call to her office Wednesday for comment about her bid for promotion.