Politics & Government

After 17 Years, Briarcliff's Village Justice Steps Down

Fred D. Weinstein's final day on the bench was last Wednesday. Howard T. Code was elected as his replacement in March.

From traffic infractions to landlord-tenant disputes and even "folks who have been arrested for a DWI charges and who are brought before the court literally still clearly under the influence," Briarcliff Manor's latest village justice has seen it all.

Fred D. Weinstein calls his 17 years on the bench an "extremely rewarding" experience that "has given me a whole new perspective on our judicial system."

When he first ran for the position of Village Justice in Briarcliff Manor, "It was 1995 and my kids were, respectively, 10 and 11-and-a-half," he reflected.

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Admittedly, "I didn't have a vision of how long I would serve," Weinstein shared as he wrapped up his final day on the bench, March 27.

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But experiencing the opportunities his children had in the village made Weinstein, a partner at the White Plains-based law firm of Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, want to find a way to give back.

"Briarcliff is just a wonderful place to raise a family," he said. "I thought that being an attorney and having a desire to serve, and frankly having an interest in being a judge, altogether led to my desire to see if I could serve. Fortunately, I did get that opportunity and it has been a wonderful experience."

Today, Weinstein's two sons are professional adults he is "extremely proud of" and he is looking forward to having more time with his family.

As he was evaluating the "significant commitment" the position requires leading up to the end of his current term, Weinstein said the village's cost-cutting measures that left him without any health benefits going forward helped him make up his mind to call it quits this year.

"With that, and in fairness to my family, it didn't make sense to continue all things considered," he explained.

The role, though a demanding one, has been both enlightening and rewarding for the judge.

"I have seen how our system can make a huge difference in the lives of defendants who have come before this court," Weinstein said.

At tonight's organizational meeting, Howard T. Code will be sworn in as the new village justice. He was elected in an uncontested village election in March after beating out Acting Village Justice Laurie I. Sullivan in a preliminary People's Caucus election this year.

Sullivan will continue as acting village justice.

"We have two judges that are extremely well-qualified to continue to serve the court and the community well," said Weinstein. "So I am very pleased about that."

Code has been sitting in on and taking notes during some of the recent court sessions as he prepares to take over.

To his successor, Weinstein advised, "...to certainly make the most of the opportunity, to not be afraid to acknowledge if maybe there’s a question that comes up that you don’t know the answer to; and to be deliberative and reflective and sensitive—and where needed, forceful."

He added, "I am very confident that Judge Code will do all of those things."

And being surrounded by "extremely competent" village employees who work closely with the judge, including Court Clerk Rori Zirman and Court Officer Lt. Donald Gorey, makes the job an easier one, he shared.

Zirman, he said, is tasked with making him "look good" by staying on top of the cases' developments, as well as changes in local laws. Members of the police force, Weinstein added, often find themselves in situations where they could be at risk.

Despite this, "Everyone that is brought before the court is treated in an extremely professional manner," he said.

Weinstein said his wife will get a break from answering the 3 a.m. calls from the Police Department requesting he come in for an arraignment and he will have more time to focus on his full-time job as he signs off.

"You could say I'm very lucky because it really is the case," he said. "It’s been a great experience working with extremely competant people and I think it’s everything I would have hoped it would be and I'm just very appreciative I’ve had the opportunity."


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