The Hon. Jo Ann Friia is a judge for the White Plains City Court in Westchester County in the Ninth Judicial District of New York. She was originally appointed to a part-time position on the City Court bench in 1993 by the City of White Plains Common Council and was then appointed to a full-time judgeship in 1997 by the Council. She was subsequently reappointed to the seat in 2007. Judge Friia was the first woman appointed to the White Plains City Court bench.
During her tenure on the City Court, Judge Friia has also served as an acting judge for the Westchester County Court beginning in 2013 and was an acting judge for the Rockland County Court for one year beginning in 2015.
She received her bachelor’s degree from New York University, Washington Square College in 1976. She went on to earn her J.D. from Pace University School of Law in 1979.
After graduating from law school, Friia first practiced as an associate at Bender and Bodnar before entering solo practice at her own law firm in 1984. She maintained her private law practice until assuming the full-time position on the White Plains City Court in 1997. Her areas of practice included matrimonial and family law as well as real estate and commercial litigation.
Friia has also taught paralegal studies at Mercy College and Manhattanville College.
While on the bench, Judge Friia was instrumental in establishing several problem-solving courts in the City of White Plains such as a Drug Treatment Court, a Youth Court, and a Veteran’s Track.
Her memberships have included the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, where she has served as past president, and the board of directors of the Westchester Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Judge Friia has also served as president of the New York State Association of City Court Judges.
She has resided in White Plains, New York since 1976.