Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson, and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas today announced the formation of a landmark panel charged with forging collaborative study of the panoply of justice issues impacting families, youth, and children across the state.

The newly appointed Commission on Justice for Families will be led by Statewide Coordinating Judge for Family Court Matters Richard Rivera, New York City Family Court Administrative Judge Anne-Marie Jolly, and Dawne A. Mitchell, Chief Attorney of The Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice.

“Our family courts and justice system handle urgent matters involving deep-rooted, systemic issues,” said Judge Zayas. “We are striving to do better in responding to the essential needs of New York’s children and families in crisis.”

“Despite recent improvements, the New York State Family Court system remains significantly overburdened and in critical need of additional resources to adequately address the unique legal needs of children and families statewide,” said Mitchell. “The establishment of this landmark commission marks the start of a concerted effort to explore innovative and effective strategies for addressing the systemic challenges that persist within Family Court.”

Congratulations to Dawne on this prestigious appointment.