The city council approved mayor Jose “Joey” Torres’ municipal judge appointment of Wayne resident Jeremias E. Batista on Tuesday evening.

Batista will fill the vacancy being left behind by retiring judge Joaquin Calcines. He will serve out the remaining one-year of Calcines’ unexpired term, according to the resolution approved by the council.

Batista will take up the post on July 1st, 2016 and continue until August 18th, 2017. Council members said they expect the new judge to be “firm” and “fair” in handling cases particularly quality of life cases involving repeat offenders.

Michael Jackson, 1st Ward councilman, said he hopes to see “fair and equal treatment” and “firm enforcement of the law.”

Jackson described the Wayne resident who has a law practice in Clifton as a local for having graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1996. Batista obtained bachelor’s degree in sociology with concentration in criminal justice from William Paterson University before obtaining his juris doctor from the Western Michigan University, according to his resume.

“He will be a role model for our youth,” said Alex Mendez, councilman at-large.

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