Vito C. Caruso was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 1994 and has since
had several of his more significant opinions published in the Miscellaneous Reports. In addition
to his Supreme Court assignments, he currently serves as Administrative Judge for the Fourth
Judicial District which is comprised of the counties of Schenectady, Saratoga, Fulton, Montgomery, Warren, Washington, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, and St. Lawrence.
He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Judicial Section, the New York State
Supreme Court Justices Association, the Schenectady County Bar Association and a Board
member of the New York State Greater Capital Chapter of the National Italian American
Bar Association.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Annie Schaffer Senior Center in
Schenectady and the Board of Trustees of the Schenectady County Community College.
He is also a member of the Order of Sons of Italy, Lodge 321, the Knights of Columbus and the
Sons of the American Legion. In addition, he is a former volunteer firefighter with Rotterdam
District 2 Fire Company, a past and present member and officer of many other service clubs
and associations. Justice Caruso is proud to have been the first recipient of the Pro Bono
Distinguished Service Award of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and is listed
in the 10th Edition of Who’s Who in American Law. In October, 2000, the New York State
Trial Lawyers Association presented Justice Caruso with the Felix J. Aulisi Award, recognizing
his enduring respect for the rights of litigants and attorneys who appear before him and the fair
administration of justice.
Most recently, in 2008, Justice Caruso was honored by the Schenectady County Bar Association for Outstanding Service to the Community.
Vito C. Caruso is the son of Leonarda and the late Pellegrino Caruso. He received a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Economics from SUNY New Paltz and began
his legal career in 1973, serving as Law Clerk to attorney Clark C. Wemple of Schenectady and
continued in that capacity until 1977, when he was admitted to the New York State Bar.
Justice Caruso has the distinction of being one of the last lawyers certified to be admitted to the
practice of law after reading for the Bar. Prior to taking the Bench, Justice Caruso was a
principal in the law firm of Wemple & Caruso, Counsel to the Town of Duanesburg, Counsel
to the Minority of the New York State Assembly and Assistant County Attorney for the County
of Schenectady.
Justice Caruso resides in Rotterdam, New York with his wife Judy and their daughter Mariel.
| 
