The community’s children are at the heart of the November election of the next Family Court judge.
“It has to do with the welfare of children,” said Grant Reeher, political scientist at Syracuse University. As he and other experts on the Family Court explained, the judge makes decisions on spousal support, child custody and visitation, and paternity. Many cases they hear involve issues of abuse and neglect.
Suzette Melendez, director of the Children’s Rights and Family Law Clinic at SU’s law school, stressed a need for judges to be flexible. “I think it’s extremely important for Family Court judges to be able to consider multiple perspectives,” said Melendez. “The law is the law. But the application of that law and the subsequent interpretation of that law can change given the facts and circumstances of each case.”
The Family Court judge is up for election because of the resignation of Judge Bryan Hedges in April. He had been under investigation for a child sex incident in 1972. He has been barred from being a judge. But on Sept. 21 he asked the Court of Appeals to review the disciplinary action against him. Hedges’ lawyer has until Oct. 15 to file the review.
The election is Nov. 6. Family Court judges are elected for ten-year terms.
Two candidates are running for the open seat. They are Republican Patrick Kilmartin, an Onondaga County legislator, and Democrat Julie Cecile, the executive director of the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
Here are snapshots of the candidates:
Patrick Kilmartin (Republican):
Kilmartin, R-Syracuse, represents the Onondaga County Legislature District 11, which includes the town of Onondaga, portions of the city of Syracuse and the town of Camillus. He has been in the legislature since 2007. He is also the majority leader for Republicans in the legislature.
The Family Court judge is a full-time position. If Kilmartin is elected, he will have to step down as county legislator.
Kilmartin has been an assistant district attorney in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office. He also is the former chairman and member of the town of Onondaga Zoning Board of Appeals as well as the Board of Assessment and Review. He graduated from University of Rochester and has a law degree from New England School of Law. Kilmartin and his wife Katie have four children.
Kilmartin has served as a law guardian, which is an attorney for a children. That, he said, gave him a thorough understanding of how Family Court operates. “I represented the interest of the child,” Kilmartin said.
“I am the only candidate who has ever served as a prosecutor and a law guardian,” he said. “I am also very active in Family Court practice.”
If elected, he would increase children’s presence in the family court system, Kilmartin said. “Part of my focus would be to make sure children have a voice in family court and an active voice of Family Court,” said Kilmartin. “They are often drowned out by the mother or the father.”
Julie Cecile (Democrat):
Cecile is the executive director of the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. The center helps victims of sexual, physical and emotional child abuse and neglect. She has held this position since 2008.
Cecile has had her own law practice for almost two decades. She became an assistant welfare attorney for the Onondaga County Department of Social Services in 1999. She represented that department in a several state courts, including the New York Supreme Court and the Onondaga County Family Court. She also volunteers her time giving legal advice at the Onondaga County Bar Association’s pro bono divorce clinic.
Cecile graduated from Siena College before receiving her law degree from Syracuse University. She and her husband Jim have three children.
“I will work tirelessly, as I have for 20 years, to bring fairness and justice to those families and children in crisis and in need of compassion as well as legal assistance,” said Cecile. “My innate ability to balance the legal and human side of the Family Court system is the best benefit the people of Onondaga County will get.”
(Allison Nachman is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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