Mamaroneck Village Justice Running For Supreme Court Justice in 9th Judicial District

Editor's Note: This story was originally posted by Stefani Kim for the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Patch on July 26, 2013.

Mamaroneck Village Justice Hon. Christie Derrico is a candidate for Supreme Court Justice in the 9th Judicial District of NY, which includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange Counties. 

Derrico—a village justice since December 2010—previously served as the Mamaroneck Village attorney from December 2009-10 and as a village trustee from January 2002 to December 2004.  She has had a private law practice in Mamaroneck since 1997.  She has a B.A. from Boston University and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. 

Derrico has been involved with the following boards and committees:

Westchester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Coastal Zone Management Board, the Mayor’s Water Quality Advisory Committee, Long Island Sound Watershed Inter-Municipal Committee (LISWIC) Member, Lawyering and Parenting Committee co-chair, Westchester Women’s Bar Association and  Adult Continuing Education.

Additionally, she has been active on the Mamaroneck Avenue School (MAS) PTA; has acted as a mentor for the Rye Neck High School Senior Intern program; coached the Mamaroneck Travel Soccer Team; is a former president of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck League of Women Voters (LWV); acted as pro bono counsel for the Hispanic Resource Center (HRC) in Mamaroneck and has been a Fresh Air Fund Parent since 2011.

She lives in Mamaroneck with her husband Donald and their four children.

Derrico spoke with Patch about her potential new role as NY Supreme Court Justice. This is Part 2 of a two-part interview:

Larchmont Patch: Why do you think you're qualified for this position?

Derrico: I believe I have the professional qualifications and experience.  I believe I have continued to educate myself, reading court decisions and attending legal education all in an effort to increase my knowledge and awareness.  I have also practiced in almost every level of the court system from federal to bankruptcy to a variety of Supreme and Justice courts around the state; this has given me a broad view of how the system functions at various levels and in various locations.

Larchmont Patch: What are some of the issues that you feel need to be addressed in this role?

Derrico: As a judge you are faced with the task of making judicial decisions as well as running a courtroom.  With every new experience I have undertaken, from being president of the League of Women Voters to being village attorney to being a judge in the Village of Mamaroneck Justice Court, I learn from predecessors and try to implement necessary changes to make things better so that they function to their fullest.  I am sure I will employ this same system to my new job.

Larchmont Patch: How would you address them?

Derrico: Carefully, thoughtfully and in the time needed; barging in like a bull in a china shop is usually not effective.  I come from a line of female business owners (both my mother and my grandmother) although I am the first lawyer (and judge) in my family.  Often times systems are either in place for a specific reason or just due to a lack of will to fix a broken system.  A careful audit can determine what’s working and should remain and what needs an overhaul.  I believe my past experiences have given me the ability tackle new experiences and be an effective judiciary.