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Mayor Bloomberg Swears in Nine Judges

December 17, 2013

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today swore in nine judges to serve in the City’s Family, Criminal, and Civil Courts. The swearing-in ceremony included the appointment of one new Family Court judge, four new Criminal Court judges, and two new Civil Court judges. The Mayor also reappointed two Family Court judges. Mayor Bloomberg was joined by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, Counselor to the Mayor Michael Best, and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary Desiree Kim at the swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.

“The nine judges we are swearing in today have the qualifications, the experience, and the depth of knowledge that make them a real credit to the bench and to our entire city,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Every day, these leaders make our judicial system more effective, and our city stronger by safeguarding New Yorkers from crime, defending families threatened by domestic violence, and protecting children from abuse and neglect.”

The Mayor swore in the following judges:

New Appointments

Family Court

Honorable Robert Hettleman received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He has served with the New York County District Attorney’s Office for 16 years in various capacities including as Chief of the Child Abuse Unit. Mr. Hettleman resides in Brooklyn. His appointment to the Family Court will be effective the end of this month.

Criminal Court

Honorable Laurence Busching is a graduate of Boston College and St. John’s University School of Law. He has held executive positions with the New York County District Attorney’s Office and several city agencies, including Chief of the City-Wide Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department, and most recently as First Deputy Criminal Justice Coordinator. Mr. Busching resides in Manhattan. His appointment to the Criminal Court will be effective the end of this month.

Honorable Bruna DiBiase received her undergraduate degree from Queens College and her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. She has worked for the Legal Aid Society and as a solo practitioner for almost 14 years prior to serving in various capacities with the New York State Unified Court System including as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Policy and Planning. Ms. DiBiase resides in Queens. Her appointment to the Criminal Court will be effective the end of this month.

Honorable Julio Rodriguez was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2013. He was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2013 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Temple School of Law. He served with the New York County District Attorney’s Office and held executive positions with the New York City Department of Investigation and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Judge Rodriguez resides in the Bronx.

Honorable Raymond Rodriguez was first appointed to the Interim Civil Court in January 2013 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He graduated from St. John’s University and Widener University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office and was a solo practitioner specializing in several areas including criminal defense. Judge Rodriguez resides in Staten Island. His appointment to the Criminal Court will be effective the end of this month.

Civil Court

Honorable Tracey Bing was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in October 2013 and has been serving in Family Court. She graduated from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook and C.U.N.Y. School of Law. She has served with Harlem Legal Services, the Legal Aid Society, and as Director of the Family Law/Domestic Violence Unit of Manhattan Legal Services. Judge Bing resides in the Bronx.

Honorable Adetokunbo Fasanya was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in October 2013 and has been serving in Family Court. He graduated from the University of Ife in Nigeria and from the Nigerian Law School. Prior to his appointment, he served with the New York City Child Welfare Administration and was in private practice for 14 years specializing in several areas including family law. Judge Fasanya resides in Queens.

Reappointments

Family Court

Honorable Barbara Salinitro was first appointed to the Family Court in December 1996. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. She formerly served with the Corporation Counsel’s office in various capacities including as Borough Chief of the Bronx County Family Court Division. Judge Salinitro resides in Queens.

Honorable Linda Tally was first appointed to the Family Court in August 2006. She received her undergraduate degree from Kirkland/Hamilton College and her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Tally worked in Family Court for nearly 23 years, having last served as a Referee. Judge Tally resides in Manhattan.

The Family Court of the State of New York in the City of New York has jurisdiction over the protection, treatment, correction, and commitment of minors in need due to neglect, delinquency, or dependency. It also deals with the custody of minors, adoptions, support of dependents, establishment of paternity, proceedings of conciliation, and guardianship. The Family Court of the State of New York is comprised of 47 judges, appointed by the Mayor for 10-year terms in counties within the City of New York.

The New York City Criminal Court is a court of citywide criminal jurisdiction with authority over crimes and other violations of law. The Criminal Court is comprised of 107 judges, appointed by the Mayor for 10-year terms.

The New York City Civil Court is a court of citywide civil jurisdiction with authority over the actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, the recovery of chattels, and liens on personal property where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of property does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. New York City Civil Court judges are elected; however, the Mayor has the power to appoint interim Civil Court judges to fill vacancies arising on the Civil Court after the election in November. These interim Civil Court judges serve until the vacancies can be filled in the next year’s election, but they are usually assigned to sit in Family or Criminal Court.

All appointments and re-appointments made by the Mayor were nominated by the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary nominates three candidates for each vacant judgeship, and the Mayor selects judges from among that group. For re-appointments, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee recommends whether or not to reappoint each judge, and the Mayor then decides whether to make the reappointment. All of the judges appointed and re-appointed have also been found qualified by the Judiciary Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. All nominations were reviewed by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, Chief Policy Advisor and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt and Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gil Hearn.

Contact:

Marc LaVorgna/ Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958