LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mount Vernon Senior City Court Judge
Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez upon the occasion of her retirement after 22
years of distinguished service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious individuals of distinguished purpose whose
lives have been committed to the pursuit of excellence in their service
to the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Mount Vernon Senior City Court Judge Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez upon the
occasion of her retirement after 22 years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, Judge Dowery-Rodriguez was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and
raised in New York, Connecticut and Tennessee; she attended Evander
Childs High School in the Bronx and received her Bachelor of Arts degree
from Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina; she also
attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and the New
School for Social Research; and
WHEREAS, After working as a social worker in the south Bronx, Judge
Dowery-Rodriguez attended Santa Clara University's Law School in Santa
Clara, California; upon graduation from Law School in 1975, she returned
to New York and served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx
District Attorney's Office for three years; thereafter, she opened her
own law firm and continued in private practice until her judicial
appointment; and
WHEREAS, City Court Judge Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez retired from the
bench of the Mount Vernon City Court in February of 2009; she was the
first woman of color to sit on the bench of a city court in Westchester
County; she was first appointed as an Associate City Court Judge of
Mount Vernon by former Mount Vernon Mayor Ronald Blackwood in 1986;
thereafter, she successfully ran for City Court Judge of Mount Vernon
and was elected to two 10-year terms; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Judge Dowery-Rodriguez presided over the first
Drug Court in the County of Westchester; with her throughout have been
her husband, Peter and their daughter, Paige, both of whom feel privi-
leged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, leadership, and commitment as that demonstrated by
Judge Dowery-Rodriguez over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to
others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mount Vernon Senior City Court Judge Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez upon
the occasion of her retirement after 22 years of distinguished service;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brenda Dowery-Rodriguez.