JUDGE RICHARD RIVERA

Honorable Richard Rivera, ASCJ

Albany County Family Court Judge

​​30 Clinton Ave

Albany, NY 12207

Statewide coordinating Judge for Family Office of Court Administration, riverachambers@nycourts.gov, rrivera@nycourts.gov

Laurine A. Bermudez, Esq. Principal Court Attorney, Richard Rivera, lbermude@nycourts.gov

Judge Richard Rivera was assigned to Walker v. Walker after Judge Cholakis recused herself from the case from approximately late 2019 to early 2022. I was a bit hopeful that someone who dealt with systematic racism might be sympathetic to a historically abused protective parent. Afterall, he was well aware of the bias and bigotry by Judge Cholakis.  Boy, was I wrong…..

Although overall Judge Rivera was better than abusive Judge Cholakis and Judge McGinty, that is not saying much. Across the board, Judge Rivera dismissed 100% of my petitions for parenting time and continued the original abusive restrictive orders by Judge Cholakis. 

Richard Rivera continued this fraudulent temporary custody order issued by Cholakis despite pleas from the mother's way of factually correct motions. Inexplicably, Rivera re-issued the temporary custody order to make it even more restrictive on the mother by putting a gag order in a temporary custody agreement. By way of motions, the abusive father’s attorney, Leslie Silva, Esq., with unnecessarily aggressive litigation and ex parte communications violated the Plaintiff’s First Amendment Rights because the mother posted on her social media the harm of parental alienation actions of the father.

Richard Rivera, Leslie Silva, and Douglas Broda, also retaliated against Plaintiff when the mother did an interview about her case on approximately January 22, 2021, on the radio show, Dr. Carlos Rivera Parental Alienation by issuing a gag order on the mother. Richard Rivera recused himself from Walker v. Walker in approximately February 2022 and Judge Anthony McGinty was assigned to the case.

On May 5th, 2022, I sued Richard Rivera in Federal Court for violations of myself and my children’s civil rights. Civil Rights Complaint, 42 USC Sec. 1983; 1985; And Related claims.

Hon. Richard Rivera was appointed as Statewide Coordinating Judge for Family Court Matters by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George, effective October 4, 2023. In that role, Judge Rivera has statewide responsibility for, among other things, addressing operational issues impacting Family Court, developing and implementing best practices to promote access to equal justice for children and families in Family Court, creating training for Family Court Judges and Court professional staff, and advocating for increased resources for the Family Court.

I wrote a letter to Judge Rivera about his appearance in Joint Public Hearing: To conduct oversight of the Family Court throughout the State, including its resources, operations, and outcomes held on November 1st, 2023. You can find the letter here.