1. As a clerk in county and Supreme Court I have spent thousands of hours in the courtroom working side by side with a variety of judges on cases ranging from DWI to murder, many of which proceeded to trial, while making sure that the law is followed and the judge's orders are carried out. In short, my courtroom experience makes me uniquely qualified and ready to serve as town justice on day one.
2. I have had a front row seat to recent changes in New York law including bail reform and changes to discovery laws. Town judges must keep current on the law to minimize errors that cause cases to be decided improperly and reversed on appeal. As a town justice I will immediately join the Monroe County Magistrates Association and work with their continuing legal education program to ensure town judges are ready to interpret and implement changes in the law.
3. I have worked in the Monroe county treatment courts, including drug and mental health court and veterans court. I have seen first hand the impact these courts can have at reducing recidivism by addressing the issues that bring many into contact with the criminal justice system. A referral to a treatment court is not always appropriate, but in the right case these courts serve an important role in our system by giving people the guidance to lead a law abiding life.
4. I am open to restorative justice certain cases. Town courts have jurisdiction over violation and misdemeanor level offenses, some of which could be resolved by restorative justice, but only if the facts support it and all parties agree to it, especially the victim. Ultimately my duty and goal is to ensure that a just result is reached in every matter before me in a manner that is consistent with the law and the facts of the case.
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I am the only candidate on this year's slate who is a licensed attorney. This means that I am the only one who has actually gone through formal training to read, interpret, and apply the law. This training is paramount to making sound judicial decisions, and essential to providing the citizens of East Rochester the trust in the local courts that they deserve. Having an attorney on the bench should increase the comfort level of litigants in both the decisions coming from the Town Court and their comfort with the proceedings themselves. My legal training and experience gives me the ability to take complicated legal principles and explain them to people in clear everyday language. I do this every single day with clients in my real estate practice. People come to me for what is often the biggest financial transaction of their lives, and I help them feel at ease with the process, while providing sound legal services along the way. I will bring these same qualities to the bench.
I think we can improve accessibility in the Town Court, both for litigants in need pf physical accommodations, and for those who do not speak English as a first language. Under the current system, litigants needing these accommodations are required to be proactive ahead of their first appearance in reaching out to the Court to provide them. I would like to include on all official court correspondence with litigants and their counsel, especially communications ahead of a litigant's first appearance in our Court, clear and user-friendly information about what accommodations are available and how to request them. People are rarely having their best day when they need to visit the Town Court, and my hope is that if the Court takes proactive steps rather than shifting that burden to the individual litigants, we can make the Court a more accessible place, and allow people to put their full focus on the matters pending before the Court rather than accessibility issues.
I am open to any approach to sentencing that reduces recidivism. Of course, the facts of each individual case need to be considered, and the sentencing structured appropriately. Our goal in the Town Court should be to better the community, in whatever form that may take. I think that a blend of restorative and punitive justice is often appropriate. People should be held accountable for their actions, but I believe that the Courts should also do their part to help offenders who can be rehabilitated, so that we are helping to turn people standing before us into productive members of society, rather than repeat offenders.
Restorative justice is a useful tool that should be in every judge's toolbox when deciding how to best resolve a case. The Judicial Campaign Ethics Rules prohibit any sort of specific discussion on when I do and don't think it would be appropriate, but I think that in a perfect world, I'd want litigants before the Court to lead productive and meaningful lives after they visit my courtroom, and restorative justice techniques can help achieve that outcome. With that said, there are also certain behaviors that cannot be tolerated in a community and that is where more traditional sentencing measures have value to deter future offenses on two levels: (1) specific deterrence of the individual offender from re-offending, and (2) general deterrence of the public from committing a similar offense.
Profession
Executive Assistant/Registered Client Service Asssociate
Campaign Endorsements
Teamsters Local Union No. 118, Rochester Police Locust Club
I believe there are a few things that make me uniquely qualified to be an East Rochester Town Justice. Being raised in East Rochester and raising my kids here has helped me understand the community and the people that live here, which is a positive attribute for a small-town justice. Also, I’ve worked in the heavily regulated financial services industry my entire career, so I’m used to following strict laws and guidelines and making decisions based on facts and requirements. I believe these skills are applicable to serve fairly and responsibly in this role.
I would like our town court to be transparent and nonintimidating. I would accomplish this by making sure everyone that comes before the court feels heard, understands the courts’ expectations and their options, and by treating people with respect.
I believe sentencing should be fair, yet proportionate. I would consider each individual case and which form of sentencing would be the most effective in preventing someone from returning to our court, while making sure the offender is held accountable.
I would consider each individual case and determine the best approach for each case so that it may prevent the offender from returning to our court, while making sure to hold the offender accountable through a fair process.
