Where I Work: Rye City Court’s Judge Latwin

Where I Work showcases people who work in Rye. The feature is inspired in part by exploring how the pandemic has impacted our work environment and part by wanting to understand how and where people work inside the City of Rye.

Today we meet Judge Joseph Latwin.

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Your Name: Joseph Latwin

Your company: Rye City Court

MyRye.com: What do you do?

Latwin: I have been the Full time City Judge since January 2010.  The Court hears Small Claims and Commercial cases up to $5,000 from anywhere in Westchester County, Misdemeanor and Violations that occur in Rye, Landlord-Tenant cases concerning Rye properties, Vehicle and Traffic violations, and Rye City Code violations.

I also sit as an Accessible Magistrate to conduct initial proceedings in cases charging minors with crimes committed anywhere in the County. These cases were done at the Youth Facility in Valhalla until Covid, but are now done via Microsoft Teams.

I was also designated as an Acting Westchester County Court Judge, Acting Village Court Judge for Harrison, Port Chester, and Spring Valley. I was also temporarily assigned to hear cases in the New Rochelle and White Plains City Courts.

I get to meet new people every day and sometimes send them to jail.

Where do you work?

Latwin:  Rye City Court, 21 McCullough Place, Rye, New York (above the police station).  My workplace is in the Courtroom or in my Chambers. Chambers has two windows that overlook the MTA Rye Train station parking lot and the train tracks, and one window facing Rye Ford Subaru’s service department on McCullough Place.  There is nothing like holding a hearing when an Amtrak train comes through and blows its horn!

Describe your desk and office.

Latwin:  I sit on the bench during Court sessions. There can be anywhere from zero to sixty people in the Courtroom, plus a Court Clerk and at least one Court Officer. When the Court is not in session, my desk in in my Chambers.

On my desk is a telephone, a computer, a desk calendar, and usually the case file I am working on. I also have several fountain pens that I use to sign Orders. There is a wooden gavel (that I’ve never used) and a small rubber gavel that I let young visitors use.