Village Justice Exias Seeking Seat On Rockland County Family Court

NEW CITY, NY — Spring Valley Village Justice Christopher J. Exias announced his candidacy for Rockland County Family Court on Tuesday on the steps of the Rockland County Courthouse.

Haverstraw Town Supervisor Howard T. Phillips, Jr. welcomed the crowd of about 100 supporters and offered introductory remarks.

"It is probably the most challenging and stressful of all positions a person can have as a judge, because it affects our children, and our children are our future. When it comes to our future, we need to have a judge who will care for them, protect them, now at these vulnerable ages," Phillips said.

Judge Exias is the first Latinx and Asian justice to serve on the Spring Valley Justice Court bench.

"My friends, I know how stressful and challenging Rockland County Family Court will be and that doing the job well means allowing the cases to affect me," Judge Exias said in his remarks. "To me, that is a badge of honor demonstrating my care for the families that come to court during some of their darkest moments and my motivation to be a light in those dire situations. I am eager to take on this challenge, as so much of my personal and professional experience has equipped me for this very opportunity."

Judge Exias has worked for the New York State Courts for almost 20 years. He began his career in 2004, overseeing dispute resolution and case management programs. Upon graduating from law school, he served as an Assistant Law Clerk to two NYS Supreme Court Justices, Senior Court Attorney to a County Court Judge, and Principal Law Clerk to a NYS Supreme Court Justice. He currently works as a Court Attorney-Referee for the Ninth Judicial District, which includes Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties.

In November 2021, Judge Exias was elected Village Justice for Spring Valley, one of the most diverse villages in Rockland County. He is an active member of the Latino Judges Association and Asian American Judges Association of New York. Earlier this year, Judge Exias was designated an Accessible Magistrate to preside over proceedings involving Juvenile Offenders and Adolescent Offenders under New York’s “Raise the Age” law when the Rockland County Youth court is not in session.