One of the state’s most senior judges has refused to get vaccinated or seek a medical exemption — and can no longer enter the courthouse, The Post has learned.
Associate Court of Appeals Judge Jenny Rivera is the only state jurist out of a total of approximately 1,300 who declined the jab and failed to apply for a medical or religious waiver.
The Columbia University School of Law graduate was barred from entering any court facilities — including her chambers — beginning Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. when the state Unified Court System’s vaccine mandate went into effect for all staffers.
“Currently, there is only one state-paid judge statewide out of compliance with our vaccine mandate policies,” said Unified Court System spokesman Lucian Chalfen.
Rivera is one of seven judges on the Court of Appeals, headed by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The panel meets in person about once a month to hear oral arguments in an Albany courthouse.
For the first time this Tuesday, Rivera will be the sole jurist to tune into the session via video since the court resumed in-person sessions in March.
“If it works for her and she can participate remotely, I don’t see the problem,” said state Court of Appeals spokesman Gary Spencer, who declined to comment on her vaccination status. “ We do not discuss the personal health information of anyone — judges or staff.”
The courtroom’s configuration was changed for the most recent session in August due to Rivera’s decision not to get the inoculation, a source told The Post.
She was placed alone at the end of a long wooden table separated from the six vaxxed judges who were perched on a raised bench behind her. Traditionally, four judges are seated on the raised bench and three at the wooden table.
Disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed Rivera in 2013 for a 14-year term. It wasn’t immediately clear why Rivera has refused the jab.
Over 85 percent of the state’s 15,615 court staffers have been vaccinated. About 1,000 employees applied for medical or religious exemptions.
Exempt staffers can enter court facilities with weekly negative COVID-19 tests.
