Assistant District Attorney Constance Patterson Fills Vacancy as New City Court Judge
Assistant District Attorney Constance Patterson as Rochester City Court Judge on Monday, October 2, 2023 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of The Honorable Judge Teresa Johnson.
“The appointment of Constance Patterson to complete Judge Teresa Johnson’s unexpired term reflects the will of the people of Rochester, as she received the highest votes in the primary election in June,” Evans said. “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.”
Rochester’s may appoint a new Rochester City Court judge under the New York Uniform City Court Act when a vacancy occurs on that court.
Patterson's appointment to the City Court bench follows her service as a Monroe County Assistant District Attorney. She will complete the remainder of Judge Johnson’s unexpired term, which ends December 31, 2023.
Patterson is a proud graduate of Emory University's School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time in law school, she interned with the Georgia Public Defender's Council and the Georgia Innocence Project, gaining valuable insights into the intricacies of the justice system. Additionally, Patterson spent time with the Dekalb County, Georgia, District Attorney's Office, further enhancing her legal expertise.
“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,” said Evans. “I thank Judge Johnson for her more than three decades of service on the Rochester City Court and wish her well in her much-deserved retirement.”
