Mount Vernon city judge confirmed to spot on state Court of Claims

Mount Vernon City Judge Adrian Armstrong and Veronica Hummel of Hastings-on-Hudson are two of the newest judges of the state Court of Claims.

Both were among four new judges nominated last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and confirmed Friday by the state Senate. The Court of Claims handles lawsuits against New York State, though many of its judges, all appointed, are assigned to other state courts. The terms are for nine years and the salary is $208,000 a year.

Hummel had been one of five Democrats running for four state Supreme Court judgeships this year in the 9th Judicial District that covers Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess counties.

Her appointment to the Court of Claims clears the way for the others to get the party nod for the state judge election in November. One of them is Alexandra Murphy, the daughter of Janet DiFiore, New York's chief judge and former Westchester District Attorney. Murphy, who considered a run for county judge last year, has worked as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

The other Democrats likely to get nominated at the party convention Aug. 10 are incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Sam Walker; lawyer Robert Ondrovic; and Newburgh Mayor Eddie Loren Williams. 

Hummel posted on her campaign's Facebook page over the weekend that she expects to serve as an acting Supreme Court justice in the Bronx.

Armstrong has served as a city court judge since May 2015, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy by then-Mayor Ernest Davis. Armstrong then won his own 10-year term that November. In addition to his work on civil matters, misdemeanors and arraigning felony cases, he has run the court’s Adolescent Diversion program, which seeks alternative dispositions in cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds.

Armstrong’s departure will require Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard to appoint a new city judge. 

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He had previously worked as a Bronx prosecutor and then as principal law secretary to state Supreme Court Justice Donna Mills in the Bronx. He served on the Mount Vernon Board of Education from 2007 to 2010.

Armstrong got his law degree from Pace University School of Law and is an adjunct professor at Pace University and Monroe College.

Hummel spent the past two years as principal law secretary to state Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Ecker and before that served in the same role for Westchester County Judge Barbara Zambelli. She is a graduate of Albany Law School.

Twitter: @jonbandler