Rockland Jurist Elevated to NY Appellate Division

A Rockland resident is among New York Supreme Court Justices elevated Monday to the four Appellate Departments of New York State. The Hon. Linda Christopher will fill an Associate Justice vacancy on the Appellate Division-Second Department. The Second Department comprises a 10-county downstate region that includes Kings, Queens, Richmond counties, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the justices he just elevated are a dynamic collection of judicial talent and experience from the trial courts, and reflect the excellence and diversity of the judicial system throughout New York State.

"These tremendously qualified jurists bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse experience to New York's Appellate Court," Cuomo said in the announcement. "I am proud to appoint these judges to their new roles where they will continue to uphold principles of law and fairness to move New York forward."

The Honorable Linda J. Christopher

Justice Christopher has been a jurist since 2002 when she began serving as Acting Justice for the Villages of Upper Nyack and Grandview. In 2005, Justice Christopher was elected to the Rockland County Family Court where she presided through 2010. While serving as a Family Court Judge, she also served as Acting Supreme Court Justice for the Integrated Domestic Violence Court from 2006 through 2010.

Since 2011, Justice Christopher has been a Supreme Court Justice and currently serves as the Supervising Judge for Matrimonial Matters for the Ninth Judicial District.

She began her legal career in 1980 as a law clerk for the Honorable Orelle Weeks in Denver Juvenile Court, followed by taking an Associate position with the law offices of Jerome Trachtenberg.

She also served briefly as a Hearing Examiner for Rockland County Family Court before starting her own practice in 1986. Justice Christopher was in private practice with the Law Offices of Linda Christopher from 1986 to 1992, partnered in the firm of Christopher and Draine from 1992 to 1996, before returning to her private practice until her election to Family Court in 2004. Justice Christopher graduated from the University of Colorado in 1976 majoring in Political Science before earning her J.D. from Antioch School of Law in 1980.