Local Judge Named Statewide
Magistrate of the Year
The New York State Magistrates Association has named Town and Village of Red Hook Justice, the Hon. Jonah Triebwasser, as their statewide Magistrate of the Year
for 2022. Judge Triebwasser was recognized for his efforts to keep the Association and the court system fully functioning during the Covid pandemic and lockdown.
The New York State Magistrates Association is an organization of approximately 2,975 sitting and retired town and village justices. There are approximately 1,300 town and village justice courts statewide filled by men and women from the local communities in which they serve.
Shown in the photograph are Judge Jonah Triebwasser accepting the award form State Magistrates Past President Hon. Harrold Bauman of the Town of Liberty, chair of the awards committee.
Judge Triebwasser recently attend the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, on full scholarship, to learn about handling drugged driver cases.
Judge Triebwasser lead the pledge of allegiance and gave the welcoming address to our newest citizens at the Dutchess County Naturalization ceremony in Poughkeepsie. He joined County Clerk Brad Kendall, who administered the oath of citizenship and who, along with his staff, organized the event; keynote speaker Sherry Levin Wallach, Esq., President of the NY State Bar Association; and Hon. Christi Acker, Supreme Court Justice, who presided over the proceedings. This ceremony was part of the New York State Bar Association's observance of Constitution Day. Poughkeepsie was the site of New York State's ratification of the Constitution.
Local Judge Named American Bar Fellow
The American Bar Association Foundation has named Red Hook Town and Village Justice, the Hon. Jonah Triebwasser, as a Bar Foundation Fellow.
The Fellows is a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. Membership in the Fellows is limited to one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation. Established in 1955, the Fellows support the research of the American Bar Foundation through their annual contributions and sponsor seminars and events of direct relevance to the legal profession.
Judge Triebwasser is a National Judicial College graduate and faculty member. He is also a graduate of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (class of 1972) and New York Law School (class of 1979.) He is immediate past-president of the New York State Magistrates Association.
The Memorial Day 2022 parade included a contingent of Town Officials. Left to right are: Town Board members Bill Hamel and Julia Solomon, Town and Village Justice Hon. Jonah Triebwasser, Town Board member Christine Kane, Town Supervisor Robert McKeon, Highway Superintendent Theresa Burke, Town Clerk Deanna Cochran, and Deputy Town Clerk Katie Khakhar.
The National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, has named Judge Jonah Triebwasser as one of their Judicial Ambassadors.
Through its Judicial Ambassador Initiative, NJC will support and educate judges and stakeholders about eliminating the masking of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)-related traffic offenses on CDL records and other educational initiatives that will improve traffic safety. To provide this needed support and education, the Judicial Ambassadors will continuously educate themselves about the latest research on evidence-based practices that are shown to enhance Commercial Motor Vehicle traffic safety.
Judicial Ambassadors will assist in designing and implementing education and training materials for judges and support judicial education efforts by researching and drafting articles for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and NJC publications.
They will research, prepare, and present webinars and courses on issues involving CMV safety, CDLs, and masking at annual judicial education conferences, lunch and learn opportunities, and other seminars.
Judicial Ambassadors are responsible for determining venues for providing education and locating avenues for supporting judges in eliminating masking and deferrals. Finally, they will attend annual NJC/FMCSA/Court Roundtable meetings and conference calls every two months.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser was in Reno, Nevada, at the National Judicial College, as part of the planning committee for the Fall conference on issues concerning commercial drivers licenses (trucks and busses.)
Town and Village Justice, the Hon. Jonah Triebwasser, administered the constitutional oaths of office to Red Hook's new Village Trustee, Declan Dwyer-McNulty, and Mayor Karen Smythe.
The Dutchess County Magistrate's Association welcomed the 9th Judicial District Administrative Judge, the Hon. Anne E. Minihan, as their guest of honor and keynote speaker at their recent dinner meeting. As administrative judge, Judge Minihan supervises all courts in the Hudson Valley. Judge Minihan spoke at the dinner of the importance of the town and village courts in the administration of justice.
Shown in the photo are: New York State Magistrates Association Past President Hon. Thomas Dias (Town of Ancram Justice, Retired), Dutchess County Magistrate's Association President and New York State Magistrates Association Third Vice President Hon. Susan Sullivan-Bisceglia (Town of LaGrange Justice), Judge Minihan, and New York State Magistrates Association Immediate Past President Hon. Jonah Triebwasser (Town and Village of Red Hook Justice.)
(photo by Hon. Ibis Guzman)
Congratulations
to the new officers and directors of the Red Hook Fire Company. I was honored to swear them in to their new positions. Thank you to all of the outstanding volunteers of the fire company who keep us safe every day.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser administered the constitutional oath of office to Town Board members Christine Kane and Julia Solomon.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser administered the constitutional oath of office to Town Clerk Deanna Cochran and Deputy Town Clerk Katie Khakher on New Year's Day 2022.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser took part in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Pre-Law Institute's panel on life on the bench.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser was honored by his fellow judges in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene and Rensselaer counties for his 18 months of service as president of the New York State Magistrates Association during the Covid crisis.
The clock was presented to Judge Triebwasser by the Hon. Dr. Carrie O'Hare, President of the Columbia County Magistrates Association and justice in the Town of Stuyvesant.
Hon. Jonah Triebwasser administered the oath of office to the new Associate Red Hook Village Justice, the Hon. Thomas Mansfield, who is also Town Justice. Proud spouse Miriam Altshuler holds the Bible. Congratulating Judge Mansfield are members of the Red Hook Village Board: Deputy Mayor Brent Kolvachik, Mayor Karen Smythe and Trustee Charles Laing.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser attended the New York State Magistrates Association educational conference in Niagara Falls where he ended his term as President of the statewide judges' association. He turned over the blue gavel of office to the new President, the Hon. Karl Manne of Herkimer Town Court, and in turn, Judge Manne presented Judge Triebwasser with the eagle sculpture. 
Judge Jonah Triebwasser administered the oath of office to the president of the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks, Dawn Marie Klingner of Amenia, New York, at their conference in Albany.
Joining Judge Jonah at the conference were Red Hook Court Clerks Nancy Roberts, Rebecca Kent and Kathy Fell.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser administered the constitutional oath of office to the Village of Red Hook's new mayor, the Honorable Karen Smythe. Her husband, Neville, is holding the Bible.
Judge Jonah Triebwasser administers the oath of office to former Town Justice Hon. Jeffrey C. Martin as Dutchess County Family Court Judge. In the center is Jeff’s wife, Michelle.
Judge Triebwasser swears in newly appointed Town Justice Thomas Mansfield, In the center is Tom’s wife Miriam.
Judge Jonah administers the oath of office to the new Town of Pine Plains Justice, the Hon. Ibis Guzman. In the center is his wife Sarah.
Judge Jonah is seen with Judge Jeffrey Martin (Dutchess County Family Court), Judge Tom Dias (Town of Ancram) Judge Michael Hayes (Town of LaGrange) Judge Susan Sullivan Bisceglia (Town of LaGrange and Village of Wappingers Falls) and Judge Barbara Seelbach (Town of Clinton) as Judge Hayes is sworn in as Dutchess County Surrogate.
Many of the same judges celebrated as Judge Sullivan Bisceglia was sworn in as Town of LaGrange justice.