Westchester’s DA Nominated for New York State’s Highest Judicial Position
On Dec. 1, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore for the position of Chief Judge of the State Court of Appeals. If the State Senate approves the nomination in January, DiFiore, age 60,will replace Judge Jonathan Lippman, who is facing mandatory retirement at age 70 at the end of this month.
As he made the announcement, Cuomo said: “Chief judge is a very, very important position and I think she’s going to do an extraordinary job.” Cuomo also noted DiFiore’s nearly 10-year tenure as Westchester’s DA, and her years as a prosecutor and judge, with an extensive background in judicial and legal reform as reasons for his nomination.
Commenting on the governor’s website DiFiore said: “I am humbled by the incredible honor of being nominated to serve as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. My professional life has been devoted to the fair administration of justice, and I would gladly continue my service to the people of New York on our state’s highest court. I am grateful to Governor Cuomo for this nomination.”
If confirmed, DiFiore would be the second female chief judge in New York State history. The first, Chief Judge Judith Kaye, was nominated by Governor Mario Cuomo.
DiFiore has held her current position as District Attorney of Westchester County since January 2006, and is now serving her third term.
Over the course of her tenure as District Attorney, she has targeted a broad array of crimes involving everything from gang-related violence to identity theft and environmental pollution. She also has considerable experience with domestic violence issues, and has spearheaded efforts to improve the investigation and handling of child abuse cases. Early in her first term, DiFiore also designed and launched the Westchester Intelligence Center, which helps coordinate resources and information sharing among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
In addition to her responsibilities as District Attorney, DiFiore has co-chaired the New York State Justice Task Force since 2009, leading investigations of cases involving wrongful convictions and identifying reforms that will prevent such cases from occurring in the future. She was appointed to this position by the current Chief Judge, Jonathan Lippman.
DiFiore is a past president of the New York State District Attorneys Association, and has served on the New York State Commission on Youth, Safety and Justice, which recommended both statutory and administrative reforms pertaining to the prosecution and imprisonment of youthful offenders, as well as the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics as its Chair. She received her B.A. from C.W. Post College, Long Island University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.
Currently a Democrat, DiFiore was a member of the Republican Party, changing affiliations about 10 years ago.
This is Governor Cuomo’s fifth nomination to the New York State Court of Appeals. Governor Cuomo previously appointed Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam and Judge Jenny Rivera, who were confirmed in 2013, and Judge Leslie Stein and Judge Eugene Fahey, who were confirmed in 2015.
DiFiore’s nomination has received much approval since the announcement.
Locally, County Executive Rob Astorino (a Republican) said: “I know she’ll be an excellent judge and administrator for the New York court system. I applaud the governor for choosing such a highly qualified individual as Janet DiFiore. New Yorkers will be well served.”
Westchester County Board of Legislators Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (a Democrat) said: “Janet DiFiore has always been a fair and prudent adjudicator of justice throughout her career and has been instrumental in making the residents of Westchester feel that they have safe communities to live in. During her tenure, she has handled several high profile cases and always demonstrated a professionalism that emanated through her entire office. Westchester’s loss will be the gain of the entire state as she hopefully takes her public service to the Court of Appeals. I urge all of Westchester’s Senators to vote in favor of her confirmation when the Senate returns in January.”
