Greenburgh Justice Becomes Judge For State Court Of Claims

GREENBURGH, NY — A Greenburgh town justice has resigned his post to become a judge in the New York State Court of Claims. Walter Rivera was nominated by to the Court of Claims by Governor Andrew Cuomo and was confirmed by the State Senate June 19. In his resignation letter, Rivera said it had been an honor to have served as a Greenburgh town justice from Jan. 1, 2012, until June 19.

“I have done my very best to uphold the high standards and integrity of the Greenburgh Town Court,” he said. “My efforts on the court were certainly part of a team effort to improve the court and get it to where it is today.”

Town Supervisor Paul Feiner thanked Rivera for his service to the town.

“[I] am very pleased that the governor and Senate also recognize how capable Judge River is and agree that he will also make a very positive contribution in his new position,” Feiner said.

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Rivera thanked the Greenburgh residents for the opportunity to have served them.

“It is fair to say that the Greenburgh Town Court will always be dear to my heart as I begin the next journey as a judge of the Court of Claims,” he said.

According to its website, the state Court of Claims is the “exclusive forum for civil litigation seeking damages against the State of New York or certain other State-related entities such as the New York State Thruway Authority, the City University of New York, the Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation and the New York State Power Authority.”

The court has no jurisdiction over any city, county or town government, the website said.

Image via Shutterstock.