New Orange County Courtrooms Are Dedicated

GOSHEN – Officials from the New York State Office of Court Administration and Orange County dedicated new Courtrooms in what is known as “Division 3” of the County Government Center on Thursday, September 27th.

The ceremony was held in Courtroom 2. The Hon. Alan Scheinkman, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, Hon. Kathie Davidson, Administrative Judge, Ninth Judicial District and Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Orange County Bar Association President Stephen Hunter all spoke at the event.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, County Clerk Annie Rabbitt, members of the County Judiciary system and Legislator Laurie Tautel also attended the dedication.

The event included a tribute to retired New York State Supreme Court Justice Hon. Joseph Owen. Judge Owen was admitted to the New York bar in 1959. He was a Wallkill town justice from 1974 to 1984, the county’s Surrogate Court judge from 1985 to 1993, and took office as a state Supreme Court Justice in 1994, serving on the bench for 15 years. Owen retired in 2009 after 35 years as a Judge in Orange County.

“Honoring Judge Owen was a fitting way to conclude the Courtroom dedication ceremony,” Neuhaus said. “I consider Judge Owen a mentor and a good friend. On and off the bench, carried himself with dignity and commanded respect. This honor is well deserved and I’m glad that we can all share it with Judge Owen and his family”.

The Appellate Division, which traditionally hears cases in Brooklyn and has not held an Appellate calendar in Orange County since 2006, held a calendar in Courtroom 2, Judge Owen’s former Courtroom, following the dedication.

“I’m pleased that all of our Courtrooms will now be together in the Government Center, along with the Executive and Legislative branches of County Government,” Neuhaus said. “Having most of County government under the same roof is a convenience to residents, streamlines operations and increases productivity.”