A key change in New York’s appellate court system is expected to have a direct impact on cases originating in the Southern Tier.
The Honorable Christina L. Ryba has been appointed to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, effective March 4. In her new role, Justice Ryba will help decide appeals from trial-level courts across a 28-county region that includes Chemung, Schuyler, and Tompkins counties within the Sixth Judicial District.
The Appellate Division serves as a critical layer in the state’s judicial system, reviewing decisions made in lower courts. For residents and litigants in the Southern Tier, that means appeals filed locally could ultimately be reviewed by panels that now include Justice Ryba.
Ryba brings more than a decade of experience on the bench. She was first elected as a State Supreme Court Justice in 2015 and most recently served as Administrative Judge for the Third Judicial District, overseeing court operations. She also previously held the role of Supervising Judge for Supreme Court.
Beyond her judicial duties, Ryba currently serves as co-chair of the Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, an initiative focused on improving access to legal services for underserved populations.
Before becoming a judge, Ryba worked within the state court system in advisory roles and served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau. She also held positions with the City of Albany, including roles in the Corporation Counsel’s Office and Community Development Agency, and practiced law as an associate at Nixon Peabody.
A graduate of Skidmore College and Albany Law School, Ryba has remained active in the legal community, serving in leadership roles with several organizations, including the New York State Supreme Court Justices Association.
A formal swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for March 24 at the Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice in Albany.
The Third Department Appellate Division hears appeals from a wide geographic area of upstate New York, including all counties in the Sixth Judicial District — meaning decisions affecting Chemung, Schuyler, and Tompkins counties will continue to be shaped at this level of the court system.
