Honor Judge Jeanette Ruiz

2019 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare by the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children and the Law WHEREAS, It is the custom 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 honor The Honorable Jeanette Ruiz upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2019 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare by the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children and the Law to be celebrated at its Awards Reception and Ceremony on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in the Great Hall at State Bar Center in Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Each year, the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children and the Law presents the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare to recognize individuals who have done outstanding work to improve New York's child welfare and juvenile justice systems; Judge Jeanette Ruiz is one such individual; and WHEREAS, First appointed to the Family Court bench in 2007, Judge Jeanette Ruiz has served as a Trial Judge in Kings County Family Court and Bronx County Family Court, presiding over juvenile delinquency and child protective cases, and was Supervising Judge of Kings County Family Court from 2012-2015; and WHEREAS, Since 2015, Judge Jeanette Ruiz has held the title of Administrative Judge of the New York City Family Court; in this capacity, she was instrumental in the Court's conversion to fully digital record-keeping, becoming the first and largest fully digital court in the state; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Judge Jeanette Ruiz, the New York City Family Court also drafted and implemented a Strategic Plan for its future, the goals of which are closely aligned with those of the Excellence Initiative introduced by the Honorable Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, A true asset to her profession, Judge Jeanette Ruiz is a vital member of the New York State Unified Court System's Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee, the New York State Unified Court System's Commission on Parental Representation, and the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, the New York City and New York State Family Court Judges Associations, the New York City and New York State Bar Associations, and the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association; and WHEREAS, Judge Jeanette Ruiz also serves on the board of the Latino Judges Association, and frequently speaks on family law topics at the New York State Judicial Institute; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor The Honorable Jeanette Ruiz upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2019 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare by the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children and the Law; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Jeanette Ruiz.