Senate Resolution No. 1580

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition
by the Friends of the Albany Children's Center, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by the Friends of the Albany
Children's Center, Inc., to be celebrated at its 24th Annual Reception
on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Jack's Oyster House, Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, Appointed to the Albany City Criminal Court in December of
2005, Judge Rachel Kretser was elected to the position in November of
2006, becoming the first woman ever to serve on a criminal court bench
in the Third Judicial District; in addition, she was appointed Acting
County Court Judge for Domestic Violence matters in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Before her ascension to the bench, Judge Rachel Kretser was
an Assistant Attorney General for more than 25 years, serving in the
Litigation Bureau as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Legislative Bureau,
Bureau Chief of both the Albany Consumer Frauds Bureau and the Legal
Education and Staff Development Bureau, and a member of the Attorney
General's Executive Staff; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining the Attorney General's Office, Judge
Kretser was associated with the Manhattan law firm of Weil, Gotshal &
Manges; and

WHEREAS, Active in numerous professional and community
organizations, Judge Rachel Kretser chairs the OCA Third Judicial
District Gender Fairness Committee, and is a member of the Executive
Committee of the ABA National Conference of State Trial Judges; and

WHEREAS, Judge Rachel Kretser served as Vice President of the New
York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges and President
of the New York State Association of City Court Judges; she is also Past
Presiding Member of the New York State Bar Association's Judicial
Section, and co-authored the 2014 NYSBA Judicial Diversity Report; and

WHEREAS, A founding member of the CDWBA Legal Project and the
Women's Bar Foundation, Judge Rachel Kretser is a Life Fellow of the New
York State Bar Foundation; she also serves on the Honorary Boards of the
CDWBA Legal Project and the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer
Association; and

WHEREAS, Judge Rachel Kretser is a member of the Albany County Bar
Association, the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association and the Women Pilots

Association; she is a lifetime member of Hadassah, serves on the
steering committee of the Brandeis Baruch Society and is a member of the
United Jewish Federation of NENY; and

WHEREAS, A longtime member of the board of the Center for Women in
Government and Civil Society, Judge Rachel Kretser was also appointed to
a number of state and federal judicial screening panels and Office of
Court Administration committees including her appointment to the
Northern District Magistrate Selection Committee in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Through her public service and volunteer activities, Judge
Rachel Kretser has been a vocal advocate for judicial diversity and has
worked tirelessly to provide increased access to legal services for
victims of abuse as well as to expand education and services for breast
cancer victims; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of her steadfast dedication to the
profession and to the community, Judge Rachel Kretser has received a
number of prestigious awards including the Ruth Shapiro Memorial Award,
the Marilyn Menge Award, the Woman of Excellence Award, the Kate
Stoneman Award, the Distinguished Member Award and the Distinguished
Service Award; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Judge Rachel Kretser, that future generations may know and appreciate
her admirable character, her many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which she is held by her peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend The Honorable Rachel Kretser upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by the Friends of the Albany
Children's Center, Inc.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Rachel Kretser.