Approved April 11, 2023

RESOLUTION OF THE GREATER UTICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN OPPOSITON TO MOVING FEDERAL JUDGESHIP OUT OF UTICA

WHEREAS,  Judge David N. Hurd has served in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of New York since being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1999;  and

WHEREAS,  Judge Hurd, who is presently 85 years old, submitted a letter to President Biden dated November 1, 2021, indicating he intended to take “senior status,” meaning he would go into semi-retirement upon confirmation of his successor; and

WHEREAS,   U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has recommended that Judge Hurd be replaced by Jorge Rodriguez, who was subsequently nominated by President Biden for appointment;  and

WHEREAS,  Mr. Rodriguez, who serves as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York, resides in Clifton Park, NY and is based in Albany;  and

WHEREAS,   following the nomination of Jorge Rodriquez to the federal court seat, Judge Hurd rescinded his resignation in a letter to President Biden dated July 14, 2022, in which he stated he will take senior status only if his successor lives in the Utica area and is permanently assigned to the U.S. Courthouse in Utica, NY;  and

WHEREAS,  federal court cases involving litigants in this region would have to travel an hour and a half to Albany to be heard in that venue, which would present a major inconvenience if this judgeship is transferred to Albany;  and

WHEREAS,  several local jobs would be lost and moved to Albany that currently work in support of Judge Hurd’s jurisdiction;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce supports Judge David N. Hurd in his effort to maintain the U.S. District Court seat in Utica, and urges Senator Gillibrand to ensure that any replacement for Judge Hurd will live in this area, be assigned permanently to the Courthouse in Utica, and will maintain the local support staff that is currently in place.