More changes are coming to the judicial seats in Ramapo and Rockland County.
The Ramapo City Council has appointed Alejandra Silva-Exias to succeed Judge Djinsad Desir, who resigned to run for Rockland County Court. The appointment and resignation were accepted at a board meeting on June 6.
Both will take place on November 5.
Desir and Clarkstown Judge David Ascher have been appointed by the Senate to the County Court for the remainder of 2024 and will be appointed unopposed on Nov. 5 to a 10-year term. They succeed Judge Larry Schwartz and Rolf Thorsen, who both won election to the New York State Supreme Court in November 2023.
Silva-Exias becomes the first Spanish judge in Ramapo
Silva-Exias comes to Ramapo from private practice after once working as an attorney for the Rockland Legislature and before that for Rockland Legal Aid Services. She is married to Family Court Judge Christopher Exias, who had succeeded Desir as judge in Spring Valley. Exias clerked for two justices of the New York State Supreme Court. Desir was also a clerk.
Silva-Exias will become the Ramapo District Court’s first Spanish judge, Supervisor Michael Specht said Wednesday.
Specht said Silva-Exias was the only candidate interviewed for the open jury position. She will serve for the remainder of 2024 but will seek a four-year term in November, he said.
Specht said he and the city council members who interviewed her were impressed.
“I have known her for a while as a lawyer when she worked at Legal Aid,” says Specht. “I found her to be professional, well prepared, passionate about the law and a good lawyer. I believe she has the skills, experience and temperament to be an effective and fair judge.”
Ramapo’s other judge is Rhoda Schönberger. The city once had three judges, but eliminated one position last year.
Republicans have not named any candidates
No opponent has been chosen by Republicans or other parties for the November election for city council judge.
The number of registered Democrats outnumbers Republicans by 35,356 to 17,615 citywide. Nationwide, there are 92,054 registered Democrats, 49,093 Republicans and 50,742 unaffiliated voters.
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police and investigations. Reach him out slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ramapo appoints first Hispanic judge; two Rockland NY judges unopposed
