While Judge Kimmel has 20 years of experience as a litigator specializing in family law, it is her invaluable experience as a Town Justice that has best prepared her for Westchester Family Court. Town Justices regularly handle family law-related matters such as domestic violence.
Town Justices decide motions; conduct hearings and trials in civil and criminal matters; handle arraignments; conduct attorney conferences; assess fines; and, as department heads, they manage the court staff. One of Judge Kimmel’s opinions was published in the New York Official Reports in her first year on the bench.
The Town of Bedford has a very busy court: on average, 40 criminal cases each week in addition to 150 to 200 traffic cases; small claims; landlord-tenant; building and dog violations; and parking. The Town Justices are on call 24/7 to handle arraignments, search warrants, and whatever might come up after hours for Bedford and adjacent towns.
Judge Kimmel volunteered to become an Accessible Magistrate immediately upon taking the bench to gain as much experience as possible. In addition to this role, Judge Kimmel is also an Acting City Court Judge in White Plains, NY.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP/VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
From the beginning of her career, Jodi has been interested in the judicial system. Jodi's first job after graduating from law school was clerking for a New Jersey Superior Court Judge in the Family Division.
Following her clerkship, Jodi became a litigator and has spent almost 20 years in courtrooms. Jodi first worked for a celebrity divorce lawyer, Raoul Lionel Felder, and then in 2004, Jodi and her husband Brett started their own family law practice. Judge Kimmel is currently a Town Justice in Bedford. She also volunteers to be an Accessible Magistrate to cover for the Westchester County Family Court when court is not in session.
In her private practice, Jodi has had the opportunity to appear in many different courts (Family Court, Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court) in various counties, primarily Westchester County.
Jodi and Brett moved to Bedford Hills in 2008, where they live with their two daughters.
Judge Kimmel is very involved in many different areas of the community. She is a member of the Westchester County Domestic Violence Council; and she volunteers at her synagogue and in her daughters' school whenever possible. Jodi delivers kosher groceries to Hope Community Services, and she was part of Bedford's COVID-19 volunteer program. In 2018, Jodi was named part of The Bedford 25: the Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential, and recipient of the 93rd Assembly District Women of Distinction award in 2022.
MEET JODI
LEGAL EXPERIENCE & BAR ADMISSIONS
Bedford Justice Court
Judge and Accessible Magistrate for Westchester Family Court, January 2022 - present
[Acting White Plains City Court Judge]
Law Firm of Brett Kimmel, P.C.
Partner, September 2004 - present
Law Firm of Raoul Lionel Felder, P.C.
Associate Attorney, September 2002 - June 2004
The Honorable Lee B. Laskin, NJ Superior Court, Family Division
Law Clerk, August 2001 - September 2002
Supreme Court, Appellate Division of New York, Third Department, May 2002
Southern District of New York, November 2002
EDUCATION
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Juris Doctor
Honors:
Moot Court Honor Society: Member, Editorial Board Member
Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Fellowship
McGill University
Honors Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honors
Honors:
Golden Key Honor Society; Dean’s Honor List
AFFILIATIONS
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Playhouse
Bedford Riding Lanes Association
Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association
Bedford Hills Woman’s Club
Friends of John Jay Homestead
Justice Brandeis Law Society
Katonah Museum of Art
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
New York State Bar Association
Westchester County Magistrates’ Association
Northern Westchester Bar Association
Westchester Women’s Bar Association
(Chair of Judiciary Committee; Member of the Domestic Violence Committee)
Westchester County Bar Association
(Member of the Women in Law Committee and the Domestic Relations & Family Law Section)
Westchester County Domestic Violence Council
New York Cyber Abuse Task Force
Hope Community Services with Temple Shaaray Tefila
Volunteer delivering kosher groceries. Fall 2024 - present
Bedford Central School District Secondary Task Force | Summer 2020
Member of the task force responsible for helping to structure the academic aspect of re-entry for the 2020-21 school year.
Town of Bedford Meals on Wheels Program | Spring 2020 - 2022
Volunteer
New York State Bar Association | Spring 2020 - Winter 2020
COVID-19 Pro Bono Network
Assisted with Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims and was part of a group of lawyers who worked with Governor Cuomo’s office to effect changes to the claims system.
Bedford COVID-19 Volunteer Effort | Spring - Fall 2020
Assisted homebound residents with obtaining groceries, prescription medications, etc.
SPCA of Westchester
Canine Companion | Fall 2019 - Spring 2020
The Hon. Samuel G. Fredman Leadership Development Institute
Westchester Jewish Council
The Institute biennially trains the next generation of Jewish leaders in Westchester County.
Selected to be part of the 2017-18 class
Fox Lane High School
Parent Liaison to the Classes of 2025 & 2027
Fox Lane Middle School
Co-President, Fox Lane Middle School Association: June 2019 - June 2022 | Member, BCSD’s Parent President Committee: June 2019 - June 2023
West Patent Elementary School
Member of West Patent Elementary School Association | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020
Class Parent | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020
Yearbook Co-Editor and School Photographer | Fall 2014 - Spring 2020
Fifth Grade Coordinator | June 2019 - June 2020
Temple Shaaray Tefila
Religious Education Task Force Member | August 2023 - present
Temple President | May 2018 - June 2019
Officer on Board of Trustees (VP of Education) | June 2016 - June 2019
Trustee on Board of Trustees | June 2015 - June 2019
Book Fair Chair | 2015 - 2020
Purim Carnival Co-Chair | 2014 - 2020
Chair of the Education Committee | June 2013 - May 2018
Class Parent | 2009 - 2020