James C. Tormey III, administrative judge for the fifth district and a Supreme Court justice, died Saturday after a brief illness.

He oversaw the construction of new court facilities in six counties over his nearly 20-year tenure. He established peer review and mentoring programs for town and village justices, initiated centralized arraignment in Onondaga and Oneida counties, led pro bono and access-to-justice Initiatives and held yearly education conferences for Judges.

“Jim Tormey was a hardworking, highly effective administrative judge for many years,” said Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks. “He was an energetic and steadfast administrator who successfully implemented numerous programs to improve the operation of the courts. Equally important, he was a loyal and honorable friend and colleague. His passing is a major loss for the state court system and for all those committed to the cause of justice.”

Born in Syracuse in 1950, Tormey received his bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Cortland. He received his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

While in private practice, he was elected to the Onondaga County Legislature, where he served for a decade before being elected a Syracuse city court judge. Then, in 1995, he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court. Five years later, then-Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman appointed him to serve as administrative judge of the fifth judicial district.

Tormey coached youth hockey, Little League and lacrosse. He was founder of the Valley Lacrosse League. Together with his son Andrew,  Tormey founded the Central New York Koi and Water Garden Society. He served as lector at Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Syracuse.

Surviving are his wife Susan and his children, Andrew and Colleen.

His funeral will be Thursday morning in Syracuse. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Make A Wish Foundation of Central New York or a favorite charity.