Honor Rachel Kretser’s Service

Senate Resolution No. 1580 BY: Senator BRESLIN COMMENDING The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Friends of the Albany Children's Center, Inc. WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Friends of the Albany Children's Center, Inc., to be celebrated at its 24th Annual Reception on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Jack's Oyster House, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Appointed to the Albany City Criminal Court in December of

2006, becoming the first woman ever to serve on a criminal court bench in the Third Judicial District; in addition, she was appointed Acting County Court Judge for Domestic Violence matters in 2016; and WHEREAS, Before her ascension to the bench, Judge Rachel Kretser was an Assistant Attorney General for more than 25 years, serving in the Litigation Bureau as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Legislative Bureau, Bureau Chief of both the Albany Consumer Frauds Bureau and the Legal Education and Staff Development Bureau, and a member of the Attorney General's Executive Staff; and WHEREAS, Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Judge Kretser was associated with the Manhattan law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges; and WHEREAS, Active in numerous professional and community organizations, Judge Rachel Kretser chairs the OCA Third Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the ABA National Conference of State Trial Judges; and WHEREAS, Judge Rachel Kretser served as Vice President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges and President of the New York State Association of City Court Judges; she is also Past Presiding Member of the New York State Bar Association's Judicial Section, and co-authored the 2014 NYSBA Judicial Diversity Report; and WHEREAS, A founding member of the CDWBA Legal Project and the Women's Bar Foundation, Judge Rachel Kretser is a Life Fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation; she also serves on the Honorary Boards of the CDWBA Legal Project and the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Association; and WHEREAS, Judge Rachel Kretser is a member of the Albany County Bar Association, the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association and the Women Pilots Association; she is a lifetime member of Hadassah, serves on the steering committee of the Brandeis Baruch Society and is a member of the United Jewish Federation of NENY; and WHEREAS, A longtime member of the board of the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, Judge Rachel Kretser was also appointed to a number of state and federal judicial screening panels and Office of Court Administration committees including her appointment to the Northern District Magistrate Selection Committee in 2001; and WHEREAS, Through her public service and volunteer activities, Judge Rachel Kretser has been a vocal advocate for judicial diversity and has worked tirelessly to provide increased access to legal services for victims of abuse as well as to expand education and services for breast cancer victims; and WHEREAS, In recognition of her steadfast dedication to the profession and to the community, Judge Rachel Kretser has received a number of prestigious awards including the Ruth Shapiro Memorial Award, the Marilyn Menge Award, the Woman of Excellence Award, the Kate Stoneman Award, the Distinguished Member Award and the Distinguished Service Award; and WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to Judge Rachel Kretser, that future generations may know and appreciate her admirable character, her many benevolent deeds, and the respect and esteem in which she is held by her peers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Friends of the Albany Children's Center, Inc.; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Rachel Kretser.