On Thursday, December 4, 2025, Mid-Hudson News reported that Orange County Family Court Judge Carol Klein is retiring at the end of December after 25 years on the bench. Judge Klein’s retirement is mandated by state law, as she is required to step down at the age of 70.
Klein’s career as a judge began with her appointment to the Orange County Family Court by Governor George Pataki in 2000. Prior to her county-level service, she served as a town justice in Chester. Throughout her extensive career, Judge Klein adopted a comprehensive approach to family court matters.
In a statement to Mid-Hudson News, Judge Klein expressed her hope that her time on both the town and family court benches had a positive impact on the children and families she served. She emphasized that if she could help even one child or one family, she would consider it a success. She conveyed her deep care for families and her commitment to helping them.
Her departure marks the end of a significant chapter in the Orange County Family Court system.
Source: Mid-Hudson News
