In his 22 years as presiding judge of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, Judge Alex Calabrese has always taken a people-centered approach in his courtroom, understanding the underlying issues that brought people to court and suggesting services and programs that would help address them.
“My approach has always been simple: treat everyone who comes before me with the same respect and consideration that I would expect if roles were reversed," says Judge Calabrese about a perspective that was incredibly innovative when the Justice Center first opened in 2000. Now, the Red Hook Community Justice Center, and Judge Calabrese's approach, serves as a model for courtrooms across the world.
We are incredibly grateful for Judge Calabrese's service. He has made a deep and lasting impact on the residents of Red Hook and the justice system as a whole.