ALBANY, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew
Cuomo announced Monday that the N.Y. Senate confirmed Jenny Rivera to serve on
the New York State Court of Appeals.
Professor Rivera has taught at
the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law since 1997. She was
nominated by Governor Cuomo on January 15.
Professor Rivera, a longtime Bronx resident and New York native, has had a long
career in public service. She has held many varied positions, as a staff
attorney at Legal Aid Society of New York City, as an Associate Counsel for the
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (renamed Latino Justice PRLDEF),
and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor at the U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York. She was Commissioner of the NYC
Commission on Human Rights from 2002 to 2007. In 2007 she joined the Office of
New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as Special Deputy Attorney General
for Civil Rights.
"Professor Rivera has dedicated her career to public service and defending
the rights of all New Yorkers, and today she joins the judges of the State's
highest court—the New York Court of Appeals," said Governor Cuomo. "Her
extensive experience in civil rights law and her passion for making our state a
fairer and more just place will greatly benefit New York. I congratulate
Professor Rivera on her confirmation."
Professor Rivera said, "I am deeply honored to have been confirmed as the
next Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. I want to thank
Governor Andrew Cuomo for nominating me, but for also demonstrating a true
commitment to promoting diversity on the bench and throughout government. He has
transformed New York State by promoting public service and the ideals of
fairness and equality. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the bench,
and am eager to begin the work of faithfully upholding our state's laws and
Constitution."
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