HUDSON VALLEY – New York State’s top judge, Janet DiFiore, the former Westchester County District Attorney, submitted her resignation effective at the end of August. She has served six years of a 14-year term.
The New York State Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) was informed of the grievance against DiFiore in a breaking Mid-Hudson News story. When asked what type of judge should be nominated to replace DiFiore, she said “There’s a conversation, I think, that needs to take place about what direction we want to go in.” The chief judge is appointed by the governor with the senate having the right to confirm or deny the appointment.
“I think it’s been pretty clear that we’re looking for someone who really, I guess, is in concert with how New Yorkers are feeling about things – whether it’s housing or the environment….there’s a large number of huge issues and we want to make sure, obviously, that anyone who becomes the chief judge is very much in tune with the priorities of New Yorkers and as well as being exemplary as a judge.”
DiFiore’s abrupt resignation followed a complaint by the NYS Court Officers Association to the State Committee on Judicial Conduct claiming that she failed to address complaints lodged to her by a whistleblower and instead, punished the whistleblower using questionable tactics.
On Tuesday, former Putnam County DA and son of TV’s “Judge Judy” Adam Levy filed a grievance against DiFiore with the grievance committee seeking to have her disbarred for certain actions she allegedly took while serving as the Westchester DA. DiFiore, an ally, and Levy have been in a longstanding feud dating back to 2014.
Albany insiders have told Mid-Hudson News that many Democratic state lawmakers were angered when DiFiore failed to approve the Democratic-written redistricting maps that were eventually thrown out in a court challenge due to gerrymandering.
