
NYS Senate schedules hearings for Court of Claims nominations

The New York State Senate has scheduled hearings for Wednesday to consider 25 nominations by the governor to the Court of Claims, including 10 new nominees and 15 current judges up for reappointment.
Among the nominees are R. Nadine Fontaine, Elizabeth Burns, Jeffrey Pearlman, Carolyn Genovesi, Peter Weinmann, Anna Grimaldi, Francisco Calderone, Amy N. Quinn, Veronica Guerrero and Melissa Catalan De Jesus, all nominated for new appointments.
The list also includes Acting Presiding Judge Richard E. Sise, Stephanie Saunders, Stephen Thomas Miller, Scott Odorisi, Edwina Richardson, Brian Haak, Javier Vargas and Debra Givens, all nominated for reappointment.

Additionally, interim justices Margaret Clancy, Edward King, Rupert Barry, Denise Sher and Laura Ward, as well as interim judges Djisind Desir and David M. Ascher of Rockland County Court, will be considered.
Judge Edwina G. Richardson, appointed to the Court of Claims in 2017, heads the New York State Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives, ensuring access to justice in civil, criminal, and family courts. With a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and a J.D. from CUNY Law School, she has served in various roles, including Family Court Judge and Administrative Judge of all NYC Family Courts.

Judge Javier E. Vargas, appointed to the Court of Claims in 2022, is the first openly gay man and Latino LGBTQ+ judge in the Court of Claims. He has served as a Family Court judge in Kings County and a Civil Court judge in Bronx County. A graduate of SUNY Buffalo and NYU School of Law, Vargas has held numerous positions in the New York State Unified Court System and is actively involved in professional associations like the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Judge Carolyn Genovesi has been a court attorney referee in the Kings County Supreme Court since 2017. A graduate of St. John’s University Law School, she has served as assistant counsel for the Grievance Committee for the 10th Judicial District and principal law clerk to Justice Robert J. Miller. Her legal career began at Borchert, Genovesi, LaSpina and Landicino, LLC.

Judge Rupert Barry, currently an interim justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Aruba and raised in Grenada before moving to Brooklyn. He holds a BA and MA in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and a J.D. from Howard University Law School. With experience as both a state and federal prosecutor and a defense attorney, Barry emphasizes fairness and justice, aiming to connect with and serve the community effectively.

Judge Edward King, serving on the New York City Civil Court in Kings County since January 2023, grew up in Harlem and served in the U.S. Army. He holds a BA in Urban Legal Studies from City College and a J.D. from Antioch Law School. With 35 years of experience as a solo practitioner in general civil law, King is committed to fairness and respect in the courtroom, striving to deliver just results based on facts and the law.
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