Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the designation of Justice Lisa Ottley as an Additional Justice to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, and Justice Christina Ryba as an Additional Justice to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Third Department.
“Today, I’m strengthening New York’s Appellate Courts by announcing the designations of two women whose legal expertise, judicial temperament and commitment to justice will ensure New York’s laws are applied fairly and correctly,” Governor Hochul said. “With the appointment of Justice Ottley and Justice Ryba, our courts will continue to uphold the public trust and serve as places of integrity and justice for all New Yorkers.”
Justice Lisa S. Ottley currently serves as Associate Justice of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court for the Second, 11th, and 13th Judicial Districts since her appointment in 2023. She presides over civil matters in Kings County Supreme Court, handling both bench and jury trials. Before her current role, she oversaw guardianship cases from 2016 to 2023. Elected to Civil Court in 2008, she became Supervising Judge of Kings County Civil Court in 2010—the first African American judge appointed to that position there.
Justice Ottley is active on several committees including serving on the Guardianship Advisory Committee and participating at the Judicial Institute as a lecturer and planning committee member. She earned her law degree from Temple University School of Law.
Justice Christina L. Ryba becomes the first Black person elected to serve on both the Supreme Court in New York’s Third Department and its Appellate Division. Elected as a State Supreme Court Justice in 2015 for the Third Judicial District, she was appointed Administrative Judge in May 2025 after serving as Supervising Judge. She co-chairs New York’s Permanent Commission on Access to Justice.
Her prior experience includes roles such as Special Projects Counsel within state courts, Assistant Attorney General, attorney for Albany City, and associate at Nixon Peabody law firm. Ryba holds leadership positions with various legal associations including first vice president of Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of New York State.
Presiding Justice Elizabeth Garry stated: “On behalf of the Third Department, I thank Governor Hochul for this historic appointment. I have every confidence that Justice Ryba will continue to make great contributions to the judiciary and our community in this new and well deserved role. Justice Ryba brings a decade of judicial service as a Supreme Court Justice, and has demonstrated her commitment to fairness and justice throughout her career, notably serving as the Co-Chair of the court system’s Permanent Commission on Access to Justice. She has earned the respect of her colleagues by her work in both legal and administrative roles, as both the Supervising Judge and ultimately the Administrative Judge overseeing court operations for the entire Third Judicial District. We look forward to working with her in years ahead!”
