By Dan Murphy
One of the choices that Westchester voters will make on Nov. 2 and in early voting, will be to elect five members of the NYS Supreme Court from the 9th Judicial District, which includes Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Counties.
This year’s slate of democratic State Supreme Court candidates comprises a diverse group that if elected, will make history. Three of the five democratic judicial candidates are from Westchester. They are: Yonkers City Court Judge Tom Quinones, Greenburgh Town Justice Christie D’Alessio and attorney James Hyer. Rounding out the ticket are Dutchess County attorney Tom Davis and incumbent State Supreme Court Judge Robert Berliner.
Yonkers City Court Judge Tom Quinones is seeking to become the first Hispanic Judge elected to the State Supreme Court from Westchester. First elected to the Yonkers City Court in 2016, Judge Quinones has presided over one of the busiest local courtrooms in Westchester for the past five years.
Prior to sitting on the Yonkers Court, Quinones served for 20 years as a Family Court Magistrate in NY County, where he presided over court proceedings including determinations of support, both contested and uncontested paternity proceedings, and other family court matters.
Judge Quinones also served as a Chief Hearing Examiner for the New York City Department of Health, giving him four decades of service to the people of New York in the court system.
An active participant in community life in Yonkers, Judge Quinones has served for 10 years on the Yonkers Exchange Club. He is married to his wife of 25 years, Odette, and they have three children.
Assemblyman Nader Sayegh said, “This year we have a very special election for NYS Supreme Court Justice serving in Westchester County. Judge Thomas Quinones currently serves on the Yonkers City Court. I have had the pleasure as an attorney to appear before Judge Quinones and I can attest to his compassion, leadership, awareness of the needs of many young men and women, problems that may arise as the result of other social issues, and I can tell you Judge Quinones is fair and someone who listens to all sides. Judge Quinones is able to make decisions that are in the best interests of law enforcement, best interests of social justice and each and every individual,” said Sayegh.
Greenburgh Town Justice Christie D’Alessio brings more than 20 years of legal service to the people of Westchester, and wants to continue that service as a Supreme Court Judge. Elected to the Greenburgh Town Court in 2018, D’Alessio has served as a Westchester County Assistant Attorney from 2001-2014, and as a court attorney to State Supreme Court Judge Minihan.
A respected jurist with a proven record of experience and integrity, Judge D’Alessio has served on the Greenburth Town Court since 2018, where she has presided over criminal, civil and small claims matters, and youth court proceedings.
Judge D’Allesio has also served as an acting Judge in several local City and Village courts across Westchester, including of Yonkers, White Plains, Elmsford, Irvington, Larchmont, Sleepy Hollow, Tuckahoe and Mamaroneck.
A dedicated wife and mother of three, Judge D’Allesio is known as a Judge who renders justice to the people with compassion, fairness and common sense. “Raised in a modest blue-collar family, I have always followed my parents’ example to work hard for opportunities. I have never forgotten my humble roots which keeps me grounded and drives me to serve the community with care. To make a timely decision backed by reason and compassion and rooted in law. This is my goal every single time I take the bench,” said Judge D’Alessio.
Attorney James Hyer is currently the President of the Westchester County Bar Association. Hyer has also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Westchester County Human Rights Commission, Corporate Counsel for the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, and a Hearing Officer for the WCBA Grievance Committee.
If elected to the bench, Hyer would be the first openly gay Judge on the State Supreme Court in the 9th JD.
Attorney Tom Davis has spent much of his llfe and legal career as an advocate for the disabled. He is a former trustee of the Down Syndrome Association of the Hudson Valley and is a member of the Executive Committee of Abilities First, Inc., a large not-for-profit agency providing residential, educational and rehabilitative services to the developmentally and intellectually disabled.
An-accomplished and respected Supreme Court practitioner, Davis brings 29 years of legal experience in complex cases as a trial attorney. A Dutchess County resident, Davis is a Fair minded attorney known for temperament that is suited to serving on the judiciary.
Through the course of his 29-years of practicing law, Tom has predominantly represented individuals, not corporations or institutions. His experience representing those who have come to the courts for justice has taught him that every person who appears in court deserves respect, compassion and fairness.
Also running on the democratic ticket is incumbent State Supreme Court Judge Robert Berliner. Judge Berliner was elected to serve as a Justice of the State Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District since 2008. Berliner, who lives in Rockland with his wife Fran of 45 years, 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
Prior to his election to Supreme Court, Justice Berliner served in the Rockland County surrogates court and foreclosure court, and in the Westchester Country Matrimonial part. Berliner brings the experience of serving on the Supreme Court for the past thirteen years, where he has distinguished himself as a fair, even handed Justice.
The Republican candidates for State Supreme Court in the 9th JD are, Rich Guertin, James Hendry III, and Mark Starkman. Tom Davis is running on both party lines.
Early voting starts on October 23 and the last day to register and vote in Oct. 8.
The support for Judge Quinones is great in his home city of Yonkers, the largest City in the 9th Judicial District. A recent event for Judge Quinones was held by Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Democratic Party Chair Tom Meier, Yonkers PBA President Keith Olson, and many other Yonkers democrats and members of the legal community in Westchester’s largest city. Yonkers large Latino community is also gearing up for a large turnout on election day for Judge Quinones and his slate of Democrats for State Supreme Court in the 9th JD.
“Judge Thomas Quinones has served the people of Yonkers with fairness and compassion and he will serve the people of Westchester and the 9th Judicial District with the same fairness, compassion and professionalism as a NYS Supreme Court Justice. He has earned our support,” said Yonkers Democratic Chairman Tom Meier.
