NY Appeals judge Jenny Rivera could get booted for refusing COVID vax

Courtroom of Appeals choose Jenny Rivera might lose her job for not getting vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
AP/Hans Pennink

One in all New York state’s highest judges might get the boot for not getting the shot.

Jenny Rivera, an affiliate choose on the Courtroom of Appeals, is one in every of 4 jurists who could possibly be referred to the Fee on Judicial Conduct for failing to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.

“We had made it clear from the outset that any choose not in and persevering with to not be in compliance topics themselves to a referral to the Fee on Judicial Conduct for his or her dedication,” state Workplace of Courtroom Administration spokesman Lucian Chalfen stated in an e-mail Wednesday.

The fee can examine complaints and, relying on its dedication, hand down a punishment together with removing from the bench.

Proceedings for the fee are confidential till a conclusion is reached within the case.

“If the Fee determines that disciplinary motion is warranted, it might render a public dedication to admonish or censure the choose, to take away the choose from workplace or to retire the choose for incapacity,” its web site states. “The Fee might also concern a confidential letter of dismissal and warning to a choose, when it's decided that the circumstances so warrant.”

Rivera, one in every of seven judges on the state’s highest court docket, has been compelled to work remotely since October.

Rivera, who was appointed by ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013, has been working remotely since October.

AP/Mike Groll

“All 4 of the judges who weren't in compliance with the vaccine mandate, two in New York Metropolis and two exterior New York Metropolis, stay so and so they proceed to be barred from getting into any court docket facility and should work at home,” Chalfen stated.

When requested if Rivera was in compliance, he replied, “she has been working remotely since October.”

Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed Rivera in 2013 to the 14-year time period.

A Courtroom of Appeals spokesperson declined remark.  

The Courtroom of Appeals notified court docket employees of their should be vaccinated two weeks in the past.

AP/Mike Groll

Some 156 court docket employees have been notified two weeks in the past they could possibly be fired in the event that they didn’t get vaccinated. Of these, 103 can be despatched termination letters Thursday, Chalfen stated. One worker selected to resign and 11 notified the state comptroller’s workplace they have been retiring.

The remaining 41 staff selected to get the vaccine, Chalfen stated.

The court docket system’s vaccine mandate went into impact final 12 months.