Senate Resolution No. 1784

BY: Senator RITCHIE

COMMENDING Surrogate Judge John Richey upon the
occasion of his retirement after many years of
distinguished service to St. Lawrence County

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge outstanding individuals within our midst who
have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Judge John
Richey upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of
distinguished service to St. Lawrence County; and

WHEREAS, John Richey grew up in Massena, New York, and graduated
from LeMoyne College and Syracuse University College of Law; and

WHEREAS, After time spent in private practice, Judge John Richey
joined the Unified Court System in 1989 as a court attorney to his
Surrogate's Court predecessor Judge Kathleen M. Rogers, and served as
her principal court attorney until his election; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Judge John Richey spent five years as a court
attorney to Judge Robert G. Main Jr. of Franklin County, as well as a
decade serving as Town Justice and acting Village Justice of Massena;
and

WHEREAS, Beyond his career, Judge John Richey made time to serve as
President of the St. Lawrence County Bar Association, as well as the St.
Lawrence County Magistrates Association and was an instructor at the
David Sullivan Police Academy; and

WHEREAS, He also served as a member of the SUNY Canton Legal Studies
Advisory Board, and chaired a statewide committee on court attorney pay
disparity for the Office of Court Administration; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his Surrogate's Court duties, Judge John
Richey has handled matters in County Court and Family Court in St.
Lawrence and Franklin counties, and was appointed an acting justice of
the Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, Judge John Richey ran unopposed for the position of St.
Lawrence County Surrogate Court judge and has served in that capacity
since 2015; he will officially retire from this esteemed position on
February 17, 2022; and

WHEREAS, During his illustrious career, including 33 years in the
court system, Judge John Richey has made a lasting impact on countless
people throughout the region, truly earning the admiration, affection
and esteem of his colleagues and the community-at-large; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those
dedicated individuals who have shown a long and sustained commitment to
excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the
citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Surrogate Court Judge John Richey upon the occasion of his
retirement, and to wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Surrogate Court Judge John Richey.