Chief Judge Janet DiFiore To Step Down At End Of August

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Janet DiFiore, chief justice of the Court of Appeals since 2016, will be leaving the post at the end of August.

The former Westchester County district attorney told The New York Times there was no "triggering event" for her resigning other than she wanted to pursue other opportunities.

DiFiore, a Westchester County resident, was nominated to the court in 2015 by then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to succeed Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.

She was the second female chief judge in the state, after Judith S. Kaye, who was nominated by Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will now be able to make her second high court appointment since taking office, thanked DiFiore for her years of service.

"From the Westchester District Attorney's Office to the Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore has dedicated her career to the people of New York," she said. "Chief Judge DiFiore's leadership of our state court system — especially during the unprecedented times of the COVID-198 pandemic — has been a critical asset."

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, wished DiFiore luck as she enters a new chapter of her life.

"As public trust in government sank to an all-time low, she ensured that the state court system maintained high standards of integrity and service," she said. "Judge DiFiore has worked diligently to reveal and address longstanding inequities, injustices and racial bias throughout the court system, refusing to shy away from tackling difficult and controversial issues."

State Assembly Speaking Carl E. Heastie took note of DiFiore's plan to retire on Twitter, citing an opportunity.

"In light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and now news of the New York Chief Judge stepping down," he tweeted, "it is more important than ever that Governor Hochul nominates and the Senate confirms a progressive chief judge."

Peter F. Martin, director of judicial accountability at the Center for Community Alternatives, said in a statement that New York's highest court has rivaled the United States Supreme Court in its dramatic shift to the right.

He said, as the courts have taken away individual rights and overturned much-needed state laws, "now more than ever we need a New York Court of Appeals that upholds and advances the progressive laws and jurisprudence that New York deserves."

Martin called on Hochul to nominate a progressive new chief judge now that there will be a vacancy.

DiFiore served as a judge in Westchester County Court from 1999 to 2002, presiding over matters in Family Court, Surrogate's Court and Supreme Court.

Following that, she served as a state Supreme Court justice from 2003 to 2005.

In 2005, DiFiore resigned from the bench and was elected Westchester County district attorney, serving in the position until 2016.

Prior to being elected as a judge, DiFiore was assistant district attorney and chief of the Narcotics Bureau in Westchester County and deputy village counsel for the village of Bronxville.

She also worked in private practice.