By Dan Murphy
Our story last week about Alexandra DiFiore-Murphy’s run for State Supreme Court in Westchester drew a large audience and public response. The story was based on emails we received from Westchester democrats who are unhappy that DiFiore-Murphy is running for judge in Westchester again. Last year, DiFiore-Murphy considered a run for Westchester County Court judge in a crowded field of democrats before getting out of the race.
The response to that story has been letters and emails in support of DiFiore-Murphy and her run this year for State Supreme Court. DiFiore-Murphy has also formally kicked off her campaign with a Facebook page, and she has resigned her position as an assistant district attorney to run for State Supreme Court in the Ninth Judicial District, which includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties.
“Mr. Murphy, please give Alexandra DiFiore-Murphy a chance!” wrote Margaret Cutillo from Yorktown. “I do not agree with your story last week about her running for judge, nor do I agree with those who emailed their views against her. First of all, anyone who works in the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for almost 10 years is certainly qualified to run for judge, and to serve.
“Second, this year’s field of democratic candidates for Supreme Court is not filled with many qualified candidates, as there was when she considered a run for County Court. And last but not least, for those who think Alexandra DiFiore-Murphy is running on her mother’s name and her parents’ power, think again. She is running her own campaign and, yes, while she shares their name and her mother’s desire to serve, she wants to earn it on her own merit. I would encourage you, Mr. Murphy, and those who emailed you against her, to meet her at an event and if you have a question about her mother, or any connections her parents may have to her campaign, ask her.”
Another reader wrote, “Alexandra has over a decade of experience as an active courtroom lawyer in one of the busiest courthouses in the country, (Manhattan), including thousands of hours of actual courtroom experience in all phases of cases, including pre-trial and trial proceedings in New York State Supreme Court and lower courts.”
“She has continually developed hands-on legal experience and courtroom skills that are transferrable across practice areas. Good judges have universal qualities – they are smart, hardworking, energetic and have practical courtroom skills and experience from years of actually practicing law in the courtroom.”
“We do not, and should not, pigeonhole judges based on their primary practice area before they became a judge. Alexandra is absolutely qualified to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. She brings over a decade of courtroom experience to her candidacy. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Fordham Law School. To describe her candidacy as an arm twist by her parents is completely ridiculous and unfair,” e-mailed one of our readers.
We also spoke to several Westchester democrats about DiFiore-Murphy’s entrance into the race for State Supreme Court.
“This year, there are four democrats running for three Supreme Court seats,” said a Sound Shore democrat and former member of the judicial screening committee. “Alexandra is one of the four. There is an incumbent State Supreme Court judge, Sam Walker, who deserves to be re-elected and has the support of all Hudson Valley democrats, so really it’s three candidates running for two seats.
“The opposition to her (DiFiore-Murphy) just isn’t there this time. Everyone I talk to thinks she is qualified and experienced and likeable. Some progressive and indivisible democrats may not like her running because her mom was a republican, but there are many, many more democrats who voted for Janet when she ran as a republican for D.A. They may say one thing and do another when they go vote. Plus, Melissa Loehr ran and won for County Court without the endorsement of the Democratic Party, and her dad was a well-known judge and supported her. You see it all the time – family members who want to serve like their parents. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.”
Other Westchester Democrats we spoke to who are closer to the campaign said “Alexandra tested the waters a bit before resigning her position as an ADA. Now she’s all in, and that didn’t happen the last time for County Court.
“The other thing that people don’t understand is that she is running this race on her own. People like her, she is well-received and not involving her parents. In the end, the voters will decide based on her, and their opinion of her.”
Currently, the four democratic candidates for State Supreme Court in the Ninth Judicial District are State Supreme Court Judge Sam Walker, Alexandra DiFiore -Murphy, Bob Ondrovic and Veronica Hummel.
A Judicial Convention will be held in the summer to determine the three endorsed democratic nominees for State Supreme Court. Republicans will also make their endorsements for the November election.
