Rolando Acosta
Encyclopedia
Rolando Acosta is an associate justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
.
, Dominican Republic
. When he turned 14, Acosta moved to New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School
. There, he learned English as a second language, eventually graduating #4 in his class of 1000 in 1975. Acosta refused the offer of Harvard, Princeton, and most other Ivy's in favor of Columbia University
. He graduated Columbia University
in 1979 with a degree in Political Science. As the starting pitcher for the Columbia University Lions, Acosta received every athletic prize that could be awarded to a pitcher by the Ivy League
and the Intercollegiate Baseball League during four years of varsity play. He was on the First Team, All Ivy League, three times and was Pitcher of the Year twice. He still holds Columbia’s season and career wins records and was inducted to the Columbia University Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2008. Upon graduation Acosta was given the choice of attending Columbia Law School
or going into Professional baseball. Under the advisement of his then girlfriend, author Vasthi Reyes-Acosta, he chose to attend law school graduating in 1982.
from 1997 to 2002. He was a New York Supreme Court Justice, 1st Judicial District
, from 2002 to 2008 and was designated a justice for the appellate division, First Judicial Department, in 2008 by Governor Eliot Spitzer
. He was appointed a member of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2010.
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department is headquartered in Manhattan.-Jurisdiction:The Appellate Division holds jurisdiction over the Counties of New York and the Bronx...
.
Early life and education
Rolando Acosta was born and raised in Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. When he turned 14, Acosta moved to New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
. There, he learned English as a second language, eventually graduating #4 in his class of 1000 in 1975. Acosta refused the offer of Harvard, Princeton, and most other Ivy's in favor of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He graduated Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1979 with a degree in Political Science. As the starting pitcher for the Columbia University Lions, Acosta received every athletic prize that could be awarded to a pitcher by the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
and the Intercollegiate Baseball League during four years of varsity play. He was on the First Team, All Ivy League, three times and was Pitcher of the Year twice. He still holds Columbia’s season and career wins records and was inducted to the Columbia University Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2008. Upon graduation Acosta was given the choice of attending Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
or going into Professional baseball. Under the advisement of his then girlfriend, author Vasthi Reyes-Acosta, he chose to attend law school graduating in 1982.
Legal career
Before becoming a judge, Acosta worked with the Legal Aid Society, where he was the attorney in charge of the civil trial office between 1994 and 1995, as well as the director of government and community relations. He subsequently served on the New York City Civil CourtNew York City Civil Court
The New York City Civil Court is a court hearing civil cases within New York City. By volume, it is the largest civil jurisdiction court in the United States, and handles about 25% of the total filings of the entire New York state court system.-Jurisdiction:...
from 1997 to 2002. He was a New York Supreme Court Justice, 1st Judicial District
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, from 2002 to 2008 and was designated a justice for the appellate division, First Judicial Department, in 2008 by Governor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
. He was appointed a member of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct in 2010.