NEW YORK – The chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals announced Monday that she is resigning after more than six years presiding over the state’s highest court and overseeing the state court system.
Judge Janet DiFiore, 66, said in a letter to colleagues that she will be leaving at the end of August and “moving on to the next chapter of my professional life.” She did not elaborate on what she planned to do next.
DiFiore had been a district attorney in suburban Westchester County in 2015 when she was nominated to the court by the then-governor. Andres Cuomo. She became New York’s second chief justice.
One of the court’s biggest decisions during his tenure came in April, when a majority rejected new congressional maps that were seen as favoring Democrats. The judges said lawmakers rigged the maps in violation of a 2014 amendment to the state constitution.
In his resignation letter, DiFiore cited his work addressing system-wide case backlogs and providing high-quality court services, even during the pandemic.
“New York State Courts have not only remained open and functioning, but have transformed from a massive and complex in-person operating system to an effective virtual model capable of meeting the demand for our services,” he wrote.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will nominate DiFiore’s replacement, thanked the judge for her leadership.
“From the Westchester District Attorney’s Office to the Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore has dedicated her career to the people of New York,” Hochul said in a prepared statement.
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