County Courtroom Named After Judge Reitz

Local and state lawmakers gather with members of the New York State Office of Court Administration and representatives from the 9th Judicial District, along with Barbara Reitz, to honor her late husband and former Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz as they celebrate the renaming of the courtroom where he presided.

The James F. Reitz Memorial Courtroom was officially dedicated June 13 on the third floor of the Putnam County Courthouse in Carmel, during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the New York State Office of Court Administration, which included representatives from the 9th Judicial District.

Reitz was a county court and NYS Supreme Court justice who passed away in the courthouse in June 2019 from a heart attack at the age of 57.

“To name the courtroom in the Putnam supreme and county court for Jim, where he was one of the first judges to serve when it opened in 2008, is an honor for the people of Putnam County who loved him so much, and who are grateful his name will be there forever,” said his widow, Barbara, when the bill was proposed back in the early 2000s.

State Sen. Pete Harckham, D-Peekskill, sponsored the renaming bill in the Senate. At last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, he called Reitz “an upstanding member of the Putnam community who performed his judicial duty with integrity and skill.”

“Today, we honored his legacy of public service by officially renaming his former courtroom at the Putnam County Court in his honor,” he said. “I am pleased my legislation helped make this possible for his family and loved ones.”

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, R-Mahopac, who sponsored the bill when he was in the Assembly, said Reitz “was not only a humane jurist but a man of tremendous energy, compassion, and intellect who continues to inspire others in Putnam County and beyond. I was proud in my former role as assemblyman to sponsor and pass the state legislation which designated this courtroom, and I am honored to help continue his legacy of community dedication and fairness today.”

“Judge James Reitz was a model public servant whose legacy will deservedly continue for generations,” added Assemblyman Matt Slater, R-Yorktown. “This courtroom will be a constant reminder of his compassion and love for Putnam County. I applaud all of our partners in government for remembering such a great friend.”

A lifelong resident of Putnam County and graduate of Carmel High School, Reitz served as a Carmel town justice between 1996 and 2006 before winning election as a Putnam County Court judge in 2007. He also served as an acting justice with the NYS Supreme Court.

One of Reitz’ many achievements included instituting the Drug Treatment Court in Putnam County, which gave residents an innovative way to get a second chance in the judicial system. The drug court’s success made it a model for similar courts around the country, and was featured in an Emmy Award-winning documentary.

A third-generation, life member of the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Reitz was also a member of the Rotary Club of Carmel.