News
April 13, 2022Swearing in of Judge Torncello
City of Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli has announced that Watervliet City Court Judge, Honorary Sue Reinfurt informed the city of her retirement, effective April 13, and that Peter Torncello, Esq., has been appointed to fill the upcoming bench vacancy. Mr. Torncello will be sworn in on Thursday, April 14th at 11am in the City Court room, 2 15th, St City Hall.
Judge Reinfurt was appointed in 1998 to the Watervliet City Court in the Third Judicial of New York by former city mayor Robert Carlson. The Albany Law School grad has also served as a labor-relations specialist for the New York State United Teachers union.
“We’re certainly going to miss Judge Reinfurt, who served on the bench in Watervliet for 24 years,” Mayor Patricelli said. “She has worked well with Judge Tom Lamb, and I always found her to be a caring, fair and a professional judge. She will certainly be missed. I want to congratulate her on her retirement.”
Torncello’s appointment to the bench comes after a recent interview process and careful and deliberate consideration to find a successor to Judge Reinfurt. Torncello has worked with the city in the past, representing Watervliet as the corporation council from 1994 to 2001. He currently is one of two elected city councilmembers, who with the mayor, form the city council. He’s been a city councilman since being elected in 2020. Torncello will resign his city council position when he is officially sworn in as city court judge, where he will work with Judge Lamb.
“The city council will certainly miss Peter as a colleague and we understand that he will be difficult to replace,” Mayor Patricelli said. “You can’t stop anyone from following their dream and opportunity to make those dreams come true. Peter is a Watervliet native and city resident. He will be a great asset to out court here in Watervliet.
“We had extremely qualified candidates, but only one position,” Mayor Patricelli said. “This was a tough decision to make. We wish everyone the best.”
Torncello is a 1985 graduate of Union College and earned a Juris Doctorate in May 1991 from Albany Law School of Union University. He has worked in the Albany County District’s Office as an ADA-Felony Trial Assistant and an ADA-Bureau Chief of Special Assault Unit from 1991-2005; as an Albany County Public Defender from 2007-20011; employed in the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, 3rd Dept., as a Chief Attorney for the Committee on Professional Standards. Torncello has also worked in private practice recently has been employed by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office as Counsel to Sheriff Apple.
Councilwoman Barbara Diamond and Mayor Patricelli will soon begin the process of selecting a replacement for Councilman Torncello. Interested residents are encouraged to submit their resumes for consideration no later than April 21st.
