Westchester DA Janet DiFiore Nominated as Chief Judge of State Court of Appeals

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has nominated Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, he announced Tuesday.

DiFiore has been the county’s District Attorney for 10 years, but also has extensive experience as a prosecutor and judge, which the governor believes will serve her well, if confirmed to her new role. DiFiore would be the state’s second female chief judge, following Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who was nominated by Cuomo’s father, the late Gov. Mario Cuomo.

DiFiore has been nominated to replace Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, who will be retiring at the end of the year.

“Janet DiFiore is tremendously qualified to serve as Chief Judge of the State Court of Appeals,” said Governor Cuomo in a statement. “She has served as both judge and prosecutor, and has spent her career working to ensure justice and fairness for New Yorkers. She has led crucial reform efforts to make our judicial system both more effective and more efficient, and I am confident that she would continue this leadership on the Court of Appeals. I am proud to nominate Janet for this position, because she has the strong, balanced experience that New York needs.”

DiFiore is currently in her third term as District Attorney, having first been tapped for the job in 2006. Prior to that, she spent six years as a judge, including as a Supreme Court Justice for the New York State Criminal Courts, 9th Judicial District from January 2003 to May 2005.

“I am humbled by the incredible honor of being nominated to serve as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals,” DiFiore said. “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.”

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino expressed his support and congratulations for DiFiore’s nomination.

“I congratulate my friend Janet DiFiore on this prestigious appointment,” Astorino said in a statement. “I have known Janet for many years and have worked closely with her on many issues and 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.”

DiFiore marks Gov. Cuomo’s fifth nominee to the state Court of Appeals. He 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.

Photo: Janet DiFiore. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney’s office