Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the White House has formally nominated Valerie Caproni and Judge Analisa Torres to be District Court judges for the Southern District of New York after Senator Gillibrand recommended both for the positions.
“Valerie Caproni and Judge Torres are both highly experienced and exceptional legal minds,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Their breadth of experience and knowledge make them ideal to serve on the federal bench. Both are fair-minded women dedicated to public service. I am confident they would serve with the highest integrity.”
Valerie Caproni is currently Deputy General Counsel for Northrop Grumman Corp., where she supervises all aspects of Northrop Grumman litigation and internal investigations. Previously, Ms. Caproni served as General Counsel to the FBI, where she provided legal advice and counseling of the FBI Director and other FBI executives as to all areas within the FBI’s purview, including civil and employment litigation, national security, procurement, administrative, science and technology, legal instruction of new agents and analysts, criminal investigative law, asset forfeiture, and privacy and civil liberties. Ms. Caproni also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States’ Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. From 1989 to October of 1992, she served as General Counsel to the New York State Urban Development (Empire State Development), where she provided legal advice and counsel to the Chairman and executive management. Ms. Caproni is a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School and received her bachelor’s degree from Newcomb College of Tulane University.
The Honorable Analisa Torres currently serves as Justice on the New York County Supreme Court, criminal term. She was elected to this position to serve from 2012 to 2025. Previously, she served on the New York County Supreme Court as an Acting Justice from 2004 to 2011, having been appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman. Prior to serving on the New York County Supreme Court, Judge Torres served as a Judge on the Civil Court of the City of New York from 2003 to 2004, and a Judge on the Criminal Court of the City of New York from 2000 to 2002. Judge Torres was also a law clerk to Justice Elliott Wilk from 1992 to 1999, and served as a Commissioner on the City Planning Commission from 1993 to 1995. She was an associate at Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler from 1988 to 1992, an associate at Coudert Brothers from 1985 to 1987, and an associate at Kaye Scholer LLP from 1984 to 1985. In addition, she was a teacher at De La Salle Academy from 1987 to 1988. Judge Torres is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law and received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.
The number of women serving on the federal bench has stagnated over the past several years, remaining at 500 positions filled by women from 2007 to 2011. Less than a third of federal bench positions are filled by women, according to the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession.
In March of 2012, the U.S. Senate confirmed Senator Gillibrand’s very first judicial nominee, Ms. Ronnie Abrams, to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York.