Justice Geraldine T. Eiber earned her J.D. from the New York University School of Law and worked in private practice before joining the bench.
In 1973, Eiber was sworn in by Mayor Lindsay to an interim term at the Civil Court Foster Care Parts and Family Court. She also served as a hearing officer for the New York City Parking Violations Bureau before her appointment to the Queens Criminal Court in 1975. Five years later, she was elected to the Supreme Court. She became the first woman designated to the Appellate Division, Second Department when she was named an Associate Justice by Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1984. Justice Eiber joined in a majority decision in 1992 that barred several planned development projects in the Long Island Pine Barrens and ordered an environmental study of the nearly 200 square mile area. She retired in 1993.
Eiber was president of the Queens County Bar Association and the first woman to serve as president of the Queens Criminal Courts Bar Association.
She was married to Bernie and had two children and seven grandchildren. She died on April 1, 2004 at the age of 86.
Sources
“2 Queens Judges Named by Beame.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 45. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Jun 26 1975. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.
“Court Halts Projects Planned for Pine Barrens.” New York Times (1923-Current file): B1. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Mar 12 1992. Web. 24 Oct. 2011 http://search.proquest.com/docview/109009645?accountid=8012.
“Justice Geraldine T. Eiber.” New York Law Journal 2 Apr. 2004, Obituary sec. Print.
Ranzal, Edward. “Mayor Swears in Five Judges, Four Women, for Interim Terms.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 41. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Nov 06 1973. Web. 9 Nov. 2011 http://search.proquest.com/docview/119678878?accountid=8012.