Statement from the Center for Court Innovation upon the Announcement of NY Chief Judge Janet DiFiore's Stepping Down

The Center for Court Innovation is deeply grateful for Chief Judge Janet DiFiore's visionary leadership of the New York Unified Court System and her commitment to excellence. She has been a crucial partner in efforts to make the justice system better for everyone, helping ensure the New York Courts are a national model for judiciaries seeking to implement reforms. 

During her seven-year tenure, she has helped implement countless positive changes—advancing racial equity, reducing case delays, increasing access to justice—and touched all corners of the system. With her support and in partnership with judges, clerks, and court staff throughout the state, the Center for Court Innovation has been able to improve community safety, lower recidivism, reduce evictions, strengthen families, provide judges with more sentencing options, and divert people from incarceration. As Judge DiFiore steps down on Aug. 31, we wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors, and we look forward to working closely with her successor to continue strengthening the court system's pursuit of equity, fairness, and the best outcomes for victims, litigants, and communities.