By Leah Mcdonald For Dailymail.com
Published: 20:25 BST, 15 June 2019 | Updated: 20:34 BST, 15 June 2019
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An eminent New York judge died after he suffered a heart attack on the bench, officials said.
Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz, 57, fell ill in court on June 14 while he was handling a family law court matter.
Court officers were unable to revive him after performing CPR and using a defibrillator in an attempt to resuscitate him.
Court system spokesman Lucian Calfen told Associated Press that Reitz died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz, 57, (pictured), suffered a heart attack in court and died while he was handling a family law court matter
It was unclear Friday whether the judge had health issues in recent years.
The New York Law Journal reported that a Legal Aid attorney and a lawyer for children were in the courtroom when it occurred.
Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said that Reitz had completed one case and then asked a court officer for help, according to what she heard about what happened.
'He said, "John, I think I need you to help me," Odell told the New York Law Journal.
Reitz, a resident of Mahopac, had been a county judge since 2007 and was also an acting justice with the state Supreme Court. He also worked
