News Release --Mayor Evans Appoints Constance Patterson to Complete Term of Retiring City Court Judge Teresa Johnson
City of Rochester News Release
(Monday, Oct. 2, 2023) – Mayor Malik D. Evans today announced the appointment of Constance Patterson as Rochester City Court Judge to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Teresa Johnson.
“The appointment of Constance Patterson to complete Judge Teresa Johnson’s term reflects the will of the people of Rochester, as she received the highest votes in the primary election in June,” said Mayor Evans. “Constance Patterson’s experience on both the prosecution and defense sides of the criminal justice system makes her a qualified addition to the Rochester City Court Bench.”
Under the New York Uniform City Court Act, the Mayor of Rochester may appoint a new Rochester City Court judge when a vacancy occurs on that court.
Ms. Patterson is currently a Monroe County Assistant District Attorney. She is a graduate of the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. While in law school, she interned with the Georgia Public Defenders Council and Georgia Innocence Project, and spent time with the Dekalb County, Georgia, District Attorney’s Office.
Ms. Patterson will complete the remainder of Judge Johnson’s term, which ends December 31, 2023.
“I want to thank Judge Johnson for her more than three decades of service on the City Court and wish her well in her much-deserved retirement,” said Mayor Evans. “I want to thank Judge Johnson for her 32 years of service on the City Court and wish her well in her much-deserved retirement,” said Mayor Evans. “Judge Johnson is a trailblazer who was the first Black female elected to this critically important bench and upheld the law as an instrument of equitable protection rather than discriminant punishment.”
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News Media: For more information, contact Communications Director Barbara Pierce at Barbara.Pierce@cityofrochester.gov.
The Administration of Mayor Malik D. Evans strives to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone. Guided by the Administration’s Mission, Vision and Values and the principles of the “Rochester 2034” comprehensive plan, City employees are committed to providing exceptional customer service, transparent stewardship, and collaborative leadership to foster a vibrant community that empowers personal, professional and generational growth for all who live, work or play in the city of Rochester.