News Release - Mayor Warren to Convene Judicial Screening Committee to Fill City Court Vacancy

City of Rochester

News Release

(Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced that she will convene a Judicial Screening Committee to fill the recent vacancy on Rochester City Court.

“Rochester’s City Court is the court with jurisdiction closest to our citizens and I take my responsibility to fill the vacancy on this Court very seriously,” said Mayor Warren. “Our residents deserve a Judge of the highest caliber and I intend to follow a process that will be transparent and inclusive in finding the best and highest qualified individual to sit on the Rochester City Court bench.”

Under the City Charter and New York State law, the Mayor of Rochester has the power to appoint a new City Court Judge when a vacancy occurs in that court.

In keeping with committees used to fill past city court vacancies, Mayor Warren will appoint a Judicial Screening Committee to be chaired by Rochester’s Corporation Counsel. In addition to the Corporation Counsel, the Judicial Screening Committee will be comprised of: A community member at-large; the President of the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys (GRAWA) or their designee; the President of the Rochester Black Bar Association (RBBA) or their designee; the President of the Monroe County Bar Association (MCBA) or their designee; a retired local judge; and a practicing local attorney.

The Judicial Screening Committee will solicit resumes and conduct interviews of local attorneys interested in being appointed to Rochester’s City Court. Once that process is completed the committee will forward three names to Mayor Warren for her consideration to fill the City Court Judicial vacancy. Once convened, Mayor Warren has asked the committee to complete their work within 30-60 days.

Given the timing of the current court vacancy, a newly appointed judge will stand for election in 2019.

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News Media: For more information, contact Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.