Bill Text: NY J00744 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Judge Donald F. Cerio Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement after over 40 years of distinguished service to Madison County

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-18 - ADOPTED [J00744 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00744-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 744

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        HONORING  Judge  Donald  F.  Cerio  Jr.  upon  the
        occasion of his retirement after over  40  years  of
        distinguished service to Madison County

  WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize  and  acknowledge outstanding individuals within our midst who
have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Judge Donald
F.  Cerio Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement after over 40 years of
distinguished service to Madison County on Friday, March 31, 2023; and

  WHEREAS, Donald F. Cerio Jr. graduated from Canastota Central School
District in 1975,  and  received  his  undergraduate  degree  from  SUNY
Brockport,  considering  a career in law enforcement before enrolling in
law school; and

  WHEREAS, He obtained his law degree from SUNY Buffalo and began  his
career with the Madison County District Attorney's Office in 1983; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1985,  Donald  F.  Cerio  Jr.  was  promoted  to Chief
Assistant District Attorney (ADA); he served  as  the  Chief  ADA  until
1989, when he was elected District Attorney; and

  WHEREAS,  As District Attorney, Donald F. Cerio Jr. oversaw numerous
cases including the Delbert Ward trial, which  became  a  national  news
story; he also oversaw an early case utilizing DNA as a form of evidence
in  Madison County, before its use was widely accepted in the courtroom;
and

  WHEREAS, Following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, Donald F.
Cerio Jr. became the first district attorney to try an individual  under
the new terrorism laws; and

  WHEREAS,  In 2008, Donald F. Cerio Jr. was appointed to the New York
Court of Claims by then-Governor David Paterson; he was  reappointed  to
the role by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017; up until his retirement date,
The Honorable Donald F. Cerio Jr. continued serving as a Court of Claims
Judge  and  was also Acting Justice of the Madison County Supreme Court;
and

  WHEREAS, Judge Donald F. Cerio Jr. worked with  law  enforcement  to
form  the  Victims  Advocate  Center  in Madison County and served as an
adjunct professor at Syracuse University Law School; and

  WHEREAS, During his illustrious career, including over 40  years  in
the court system, Judge Donald F. Cerio Jr. has made a lasting impact on
countless  people  throughout  the region, truly earning the admiration,
affection, and esteem of his colleagues and the community-at-large; and

  WHEREAS, It is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  those
dedicated  individuals who have shown a long and sustained commitment to

excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the
citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Judge Donald F. Cerio Jr. upon the occasion of his retirement, and
to wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Judge Donald F. Cerio Jr.