Jared Rice Appointed New Rochelle Judge

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — An outgoing city councilman will be replacing his mother on the New Rochelle City Court. Mayor Noam Bramson announced Thursday the appointment of Jared Rice to the court.

Rice, who is finishing his last term on the city council, will become a full-time judge, taking over from retiring Judge Gail B. Rice, his mother.

Jared Rice's 10-year term will begin Jan. 1. He will be joining Judge Susan I. Kettner and Judge Anthony A. Carbone on the bench.

Jared Rice has been on the city council since 2011. He is currently a partner with his father, J. Roger Rice, in the local law fire Rice & Rice.

In making the announcement, Bramson said Jared Rice had a remarkable record of public service as an attorney, a council member and community leader.

"Working at his side for almost a decade, I have seen firsthand Jared's intelligence, integrity, temperament and commitment to justice — all of which will be great assets to the New Rochelle Court," he said.

Rice said he was grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the public.

"At a time when our local courts are undergoing significant change and reform," he said, "I am ready to meet the challenge of being a great steward of justice for all court users."

Rice has been a public defender in the Mount Vernon City Court for more than 12 years and assumed the lead defense role in the Adolescent Diversion Part from 2012.

He also successfully litigated some of the highest profile civil rights cases in Westchester County concerning prisoner rights.

Rice is a product of the New Rochelle public schools and graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

He led the effort to make New Rochelle the first community in the county to accept Barack Obama's My Brother's Keeper Community Challenge. Rice also serves on the nonprofit boards of Volunteer New York! and the Youth Shelter of Westchester, where he is the vice chairman. He was also appointed this year by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the SUNY Purchase College Council.

Rice and his wife Jasmine have two children who are students at William B. Ward Elementary School.