Not to buck the executive, but I find his logic particularly flawed in this instance. If adding a third judge creates a burden on the county, why not, with apologies to Judge Mizel, eliminate the second one?
Location within the county’s “judicial district” is of course a pressing issue, since the new judge will begin holding court shortly after Jan. 1. Fortunately for county administrators there are several large empty spaces in Uptown Kingston with owners and real estate agents eager to deal.
Family history
Ulster’s first Family Court judge was the distinguished Republican Hugh Elwyn, who had the misfortune of getting tangled up in the politically charged Beth (St. John) Liuni case from about 50 years ago. Fair-haired blue-eyed Beth was the foster child from infancy of a middle-aged Italian couple from Rosendale, described as “swarthy” in an at-the-time Associated Press report. Imagine? When they sought to adopt the child, then almost 5, Elwyn, in one of the judicial blunders of all time, agreed with Social Services that it would not be a good “match.” The case figured prominently in the 1966 congressional elections where Democrat Joe Resnick of Ellenville, in attacking Ulster’s good-ol’-boy Republican establishment, narrowly defeated Republican Hamilton Fish Jr. of Millbrook.
Former assemblyman Clark Bell (1969-74) was instrumental in creating the second Family Court judgeship in Ulster, which by political agreement went to Kingston lawyer Bernard Feeney. Feeney, a respected jurist, but with serious health issues, died in office from heart disease in 1989.
Very insightful. I can’t imagine that many people could manage the depth and breadth of this issue.. quite impressive. Thank you.
When will Executive Hein stop the nonsense. Assemblyman Cahill is to be praised for getting the 3rd, much needed Judge. Instead, Hein ignores the accomplishment and finds a negative. He is truly pathetic.
If this was done by Bill Larkin or Pete Lopez, Hein would be signing the praises of his fellow Republicans. I am sick of this guy, he is a phoney and extremely vengeful. He has worn out his welcome. Time for a real Democrat.