Karen K. Peters

Karen K. Peters (born July 29, 1947) is an American jurist who served as Presiding Justice of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Department from 2012 until her retirement in 2017 and was the first woman to serve in that role. Early life and education Peters was raised on Long Island, New York. She attended The George Washington University (B.A., 1969) and received her J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law (1972). Legal career Peters began her legal career in private practice in New Paltz, New York in the areas of criminal defense and matrimonial law. She later briefly served as an Assistant District Attorney in Dutchess County, New York and has taught at the State University of New York at New Paltz. From 1979 to 1983, Peters served as counsel to the State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. She was named director of the New York State Assembly Government Operations Committee in 1983, and served in that position until her election to the bench later that year.