WESTCHESTER: Former Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore Stepping Down As New York's Top Judge

NEW YORK STATE: Janet DiFiore, chief judge on the state Court of Appeals, says she will resign at the end of August.

The 66-year-old was nominated by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2015.

The former Westchester County District Attorney did not give a reason for her departure.

However she was recently the subject of an ethics investigation, conducted by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

That investigation was examining whether Judge DiFiore wrongly interfered in the disciplinarily hearing of the president of the state’s court officers association.

Dennis Quirk, the court officers union leader and critic of Judge DiFiore, faced punishment for threatening to post copies of an old newspaper story about an alleged affair Judge DiFiore had on court buildings statewide.

Last August, Judge DiFiore wrote a letter to the hearing officer in Quirk’s case, Phyllis Orlikoff Flug, requesting Quirk be punished.

Judicial ethics don’t allow judges to use their titles to influence a proceeding for personal gain.

Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul will need her nominee for the role, which carries a 14-year term, confirmed by the state Senate.

Hochul thanked Judge DiFiore for her service in a statement....

"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. Chief Judge DiFiore's leadership of our state court system - especially during the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic - has been a critical asset. I thank Judge DiFiore for her years of service and look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Nomination as we work to appoint new leadership to the Court."