Date: February 7, 2002

Chief Judge Kaye said, "I first want to express my gratitude to Judge Pesce for his willingness to take on this latest assignment in his distinguished career. He leaves his current post as Administrative Judge of the Second Judicial District with an impressive record of achievement and recognition for adhering to the highest ethical standards. The Appellate Term will now benefit immeasurably from his sharp intellect and prodigious experience as judge and administrator. I am also greatly appreciative that Judge Pfau has agreed to replace Judge Pesce in this critical management position. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional administrative ability, strong leadership skills and impeccable integrity. I know that Judge Pfau will meet all the challenges of this new assignment, and I look forward to continuing to work with her."
Judge Lippman said, "Judge Pesce has performed an outstanding job as Administrative Judge during the past six years. Under his leadership, the Second Judicial District has made remarkable strides in managing its staggering workload. His tenure as Administrative Judge has also been distinguished by a series of acclaimed innovations, including establishment in Brooklyn of the largest felony drug court in the nation and the first felony domestic violence court in the nation. I am extremely pleased that he has agreed to take on the important position of Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term. I am also delighted that Judge Pfau, with whom I have worked closely for the past 12 years, has agreed to accept this new assignment. She brings superb management skills, boundless energy and great strength of character to this task. Her proven record as a court administrator and the wide respect she commands throughout the court system will serve her well in this role. I have the utmost confidence that, under Judge Pfau's leadership, the Second Judicial District will stand out as a model within the court system in the fair and efficient adjudication of its formidable caseloads."

Judge Pesce, who was appointed Administrative Judge of the Second Judicial District in 1996, has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court in Kings County since 1990. Prior to his election to Supreme Court, he was an Acting Supreme Court Justice from 1984 to 1989, and from 1981 to 1983 he served as a New York City Civil Court Judge in Brooklyn. From 1973 to 1980, Judge Pesce was a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 52nd Assembly District in Kings County. Early in his career, he worked as a staff attorney with the civil division of the Legal Aid Society and later became a founding partner in a private law firm handling real estate matters and commercial litigation. Judge Pesce earned his law degree from Detroit College of Law after receiving his undergraduate degree from the City University of New York.

Judge Pfau has held administrative positions in the Unified Court System for some 18 years. Since 1997, she has served as the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Management Support, overseeing the operations of the Office of Court Administration. Prior to that she served as Special Counsel to the Chief Administrative Judge, as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief Administrator for Management Support and as a member of OCA's legal staff. She was appointed to the New York City Criminal Court in 1998, and was designated an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2001. A Brooklyn resident, Judge Pfau received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School, a graduate degree in special education from Columbia University and her undergraduate degree from Wells College.

Along with her new assignment, Judge Pfau will continue to serve as the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Management Support. Under her direction, Margaret Morton and Ronald Younkins will now oversee the day-to-day operations of the Office of Management Support. Ms. Morton, currently Assistant Deputy Chief Administrator, and Mr. Younkins, currently Executive Assistant to Judge Pfau, have been designated First Assistant Deputy Chief Administrators.