Statement By President Jeremy Travis On The Nomination Of Janet Difiore As Chief Judge Of New York State

December 1, 2015:

I congratulate Janet DiFiore on her nomination as Chief Judge of New York State and applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo for  his selection of Ms. DiFiore for this important leadership position in the State’s legal community and system of justice.

Janet DiFiore represents the very best of our State’s legal community and will bring distinction to the role of Chief Judge. She has extensive administrative experience as District Attorney of Westchester County for the past decade, overseeing an office that prosecuted more than 35,000 cases a year.  In this capacity, she has developed a reputation as an innovative prosecutor, creating a Child Fatality Review Team, launching an intelligence center that coordinates law enforcement information-sharing, establishing a task force to investigate elder abuse and bringing the accountability to crime control strategies through the introduction of CountyStat.

Ms. DiFiore has distinguished herself in multiple capacities as a leader in criminal justice circles across the state, including as President of the District Attorneys Association. She has been at the forefront of key criminal justice issues, including wrongful convictions, juvenile justice and safety, and public ethics. Her past leadership roles will serve her well as the leader of the New York State Office of Court Administration and as a force for justice throughout the State. 

In addition, her prior service as Supreme Court Justice of the Criminal Court, 9th Judicial Circuit, where she created special courts for individuals with mental health issues and for sex offenders, as well as Westchester County Court Judge, underscores her capabilities in handling the complex legal issues presented before the court.

This unique combination of an innovative approach to the issues confronting the state’s courts, deep administrative experience, a stellar track record as a judge, and direct experience working with other agencies of the justice system have prepared Janet DiFiore for this new chapter of a life of distinguished public service.  On behalf of my colleagues and the students at John Jay, we look forward to working with her to advance the cause of justice.