Lia A. Rodriguez for Greenburgh Town Justice
Keep Judge Rodriguez in Greenburgh Justice Court
Judge Lia A. Rodriguez was appointed to Greenburgh Town Court in July 2025. She brings over 20 years of courtroom experience as a public defender and trial lawyer to the bench. In addition to presiding over Greenburgh Town Court, Judge Rodriguez is Principle Law Clerk to the Honorable Walter Rivera, Justice of the Supreme Court, 9th Judicial District.
Judge Rodriguez has committed her entire legal career to public service and has been a union member for over 20 years. As a bilingual Justice, Judge Rodriguez brings inclusivity to the Court in addition to her legal expertise.
Judge Rodriguez lives in the Village of Tarrytown with her partner, local attorney Jeffrey Rizzo, and two middle school sons, Micah and Dominic. Judge Rodriguez moved to Greenburgh deliberately for its socioeconomic and ethnic diversity and for its lived values of tolerance, equity and openness. She brings a patient, circumspect, and respectful judicial temperament to the bench and believes firmly in the rights and dignity of the accused, their equal access to justice, and the right of all litigants to be treated with fairness in our courts.
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9th Judicial District of New York, Principal Law Clerk to JSC Walter Rivera
• Research and analyze uniquely intricate, complex and sensitive legal issues and questions for State Supreme Court Justice.
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The Legal Aid Society of New York, Supervising Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice Trial Division
• Trained, mentored and coached interdisciplinary team of attorneys, paralegals and investigators.
• Trained new lawyers, supervised hearings and trials, evaluated client services.
The Legal Aid Society of New York, Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice Trial Division
• Managed misdemeanor and felony criminal cases from inception at arraignment through trial.
• Extensive trial and evidentiary hearing experience: research and writing involving complex legal issues; plea and sentence negotiation; grand jury representation; coordination of social workers, investigators, and paralegals; trial preparation including discovery review, trial strategy development, crime scene investigation, preparing clients and witnesses to testify, and analyzing police and medical records.
• Advised on the collateral consequences that result from involvement in the criminal justice system including immigration, bail, housing, employment, and healthcare.
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, Recording Secretary
• One of three executive officers leading UAW Local 2325 representing over 800 attorneys at the time.
Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, Bronx, NY, High School Social Studies Teacher
• Taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grade Government, and U.S. and European History.
US Department of State, United States Mission to the United Nations
Executive Support Assistant to Ambassador Bill Richardson
• Liaised between Ambassador Richardson’s executive office and other staff members.
Protocol Officer
• Advised on matters of national and international protocol; planned, coordinated and executed arrangements for official functions hosted by Ambassador Richardson; maintained schedule of United Nations official events requiring U.S. representation; greeted foreign dignitaries.
Press and Public Affairs Intern
• Researched and summarized information on current events for Ambassador Richardson and members of the U.S. Mission.
Education
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, TALLAHASSEE, FL
Juris Doctor, 2002
• Mock Trial
• Journal of Transnational Law and Policy
• Contracts Tutor and Research Assistant
• University College London, Pace University London Law Program, Spring Semester 2001
• Legal Internship, Chambers of Anthony Berry, QC, London
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MI
BA, History of Art and Political Science, 1996
• Scholar Recognition Award: four year, full scholarship
• Loyola University Rome Center of Liberal Arts, Rome, Italy, 1994-1995
• Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, Summer 1993