Crime Scene

Former Rockland sex crimes prosecutor Karen Riley announced today that she’s been appointed as chief attorney/executive director of the Children’s Rights Society of Orange County in Goshen.

The agency staffs seven lawyers, a social worker, an investigator and four administrative personnel.

The agency is funded by the New York State Office of Court Administration, which handles the majority of the Law Guardian work in Orange County, Riley said.

Law guardians represent child whose parents are involved in custody proceedings, minors in juvenile deliquent proceedings and PINS proceedings. The cases are predominately in Family Court.

Riley left the District Attorney’s Office in January 2006 after more than 10 years to pursue an opening as a County Court judge. She succeeded when then Gov. George Pataki appointed her to the bench.

Riley lost in the judgeship in November election when voters elected Clarkstown Justice Victor Alfieri and Haverstraw Justice Charles Apotheker to the court.

Riley might have ended up in Orange County, anyway, if she won election. Cause getting elected County Court judge doesn’t mean serving in Rockland.

The 9th Judicial District’s administrative judge, Francis Nicolai, has assigned Alfieri to his elected post on County Court. Nicolai assigned Apotheker to Rockland Family Court, allowing GOP appointed Court of Claims Judge Catherine Bartlett of Orange County her wish to commute and sit in Rockland County Court. New York State Supreme Court Justice Willam Kelly continues hearing criminal cases, as he did as a County Court judge. And elected County Court Judge William Nelson hears civil cases as an acting state Supreme Court judge.

One needs a scorecard.