Rising Media Group endorses the democratic candidates for State Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District; Judge Christie D’Alessio, Judge Tom Quiñones, James Hyer, Tom Davis and incumbent Supreme Court Justice Robert Berliner.
Each judicial candidate brings a wealth of experience, either as a sitting local court judge, or in the courtroom as an attorney. We also appreciate and recognize the diversities in each of the candidates, in their life experiences and year spent serving the people of the 9th JD.
Judge Christie D’Alessio is the only female judicial candidate on the ballot in the 9th JD this year. Her current experience as a Greenburgh Town Justice, and her expereience as a Court Attorney to an Acting Supreme Court Justice, and her prior 20 years of service in the Westchester court system make her a great addition to the bench.
Yonkers City Court Judge Tom Quiñones has served for five years in Westchester’s busiest City Court with distinction. Quiñones was the first Hispanic Judge on the Yonkers bench, and if elected, will become the first Hispanic State Supreme Court Justice from Westchester. The people of our county would benefit from his election.
Attorney James Hyer serves as the President of the Westchester County Bar Association, and has earned the respect of his peers in the court system. If elected, Hyer would be the first openly gay member of the State Supreme Court in the 9th JD, and while we would welcome this accomplishment, that is not why he gets our endorsement. We believe that Hyer would come to the bench with an open mind, willing to listen to and respect the rights of all who come before him seeking justice.
Attorney Tom Davis has spent more than three decades representing clients in the 9th JD. But his passion is to advocate and help serve the disabled population. As a father of a child with Down Syndrome, Davis would bring a unique perspective to the court. “I have learned that the power of a supreme court judge is a vitally important position, and the decisions a supreme court judge makes can be life altering to the people who appear before them,” said Davis.
Judge Robert Berliner is a sitting Supreme Court Justice in the 9th JD, and has the experience and record to warrant re-election.
State Supreme Court Justices serve 14 years terms. This is an important race for the voters of Westchester to be aware of and participate in. D’Alessio, Quiñones, Hyer and Davis have received a broad array of endorsements from the legal and law enforcement community, and from other groups such as Hudson Valley Stonewall Democrats, Westchester / Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, local unions and many democratic elected officials including NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NYS Senator Shelly Mayer, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Putnam County Democratic Chairman Scott Reing and more.
All four candidates have actively campaigned throughout Westchester, in an effort to hear your concerns and earn your vote. Their opponents have not been heard of or reached out to the local media to share their views.
Judicial elections are an example of the type of local election that does affect you and deserves your attention. Don’t take this race for granted, make sure your voice is heard by casting your vote.
