LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Judge Penelope D. Clute upon the occa-
sion of her retirement after 10 years of distinguished service to the
Plattsburgh City Court

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those singular individuals who devote their purposeful lives
and careers to preserving the rights and protecting the welfare of the
citizens of their community and the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this great Empire State
has been ably served and uniquely enriched through the selfless dedi-
cation and benevolent concern of Justice Penelope D. Clute; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Judge Pene-
lope D. Clute upon the occasion of her retirement after 10 years of
distinguished service to the Plattsburgh City Court, to be celebrated on
Friday, January 20, 2012, in Plattsburgh, New York; and
WHEREAS, Earning her JD from Wayne State University Law School and her
bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, The Honorable Penelope
D. Clute was appointed as the city's first full-time judge by then Mayor
Daniel Stewart on January 3, 2002; she had served as the Clinton County
district attorney for 13 years and prior to that, was a partner in the
law firm of Clute, Clute & Thompson in Plattsburgh for 10 years; and
WHEREAS, Judge Penelope Clute has had a notable impact on City Court
the past decade; in 2003, with no funding, she established a Drug Treat-
ment Court that works with those on probation with serious drug prob-
lems; her work in that area has been recognized by the National Associ-
ation of Drug Court Professionals; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, she began a Mental Health Court after Plattsburgh
was selected for that by the state; the Mental Health Court is a collab-
oration of criminal-justice and mental-health professionals and others
in the community who have a role in treating, assisting and housing
mentally ill offenders; when the Mental Health Court was started, only
five such courts existed in New York, currently there are 26; and
WHEREAS, City Court has often had to deal with vandalism and noise
problems in the Center City, where many college students live; Judge
Penelope Clute worked with officials at Plattsburgh State University and
with criminal-justice leaders to provide sentencing alternatives of
community-service weekend work crews and attendance at community impact
panels to emphasize accountability, community responsibility and resti-
tution, in addition to fines; and
WHEREAS, For the past four years, Judge Penelope Clute has also served
as acting Franklin County Court judge; she also established a website to
help people without attorneys to better understand the court process;
and
WHEREAS, Judge Penelope D. Clute, in every capacity in which she
served, has left her permanent mark on the judicial community and will
forever be remembered as a determined, innovative and genuinely
concerned expert in her field; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Judge Penelope D. Clute upon the occasion of stepping down after
10 years of distinguished service to the Plattsburgh City Court, and to
extend its sincere gratitude for her contribution to the people of New
York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Penelope D. Clute.