To restore the court to three justices, as stated at a convention last night (9/24/07), I will be recommending to the Town Board that we appoint Arlene Gordon Oliver to fill the vacancy which occurred when Town Justice James Hubert was appointed to Westchester County Court this summer by Governor Eliot Spitzer. The appointment could be made as soon as tomorrow night's Town Board meeting. Councilwoman Eddie Mae Barnes, who was also present at the convention, also voiced support for Ms. Gordon-Oliver.
Under NYS law, the Town Board is authorized to fill such vacancies until an election is held and the successful candidate is sworn in. Therefore, if the Town Board doesn't act, the court would be operating with only two justices until January, potentially creating a serious backlog of cases.
A convention of the Greenburgh Democratic Party Town Committee was held last night to select a candidate to fill the third Town Justice position. No other political party held a convention for the position. Arlene Gordon Oliver won the nomination and, because no other party held a convention, Ms. Gordon Oliver will appear on the ballot unopposed this November and take office for a four year term starting January 1, 2008. Ms. Gordon Oliver is a Fordham Law School graduate, named partner with the law firm of Rattet, Pasternak & Gordon Oliver, Assistant Treasurer of the Westchester County Bar Association, former member of the Board of Directors of the Westchester County Bar Association, former President of the Westchester Black Bar Association, Chairperson of the Bankruptcy Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association, Chairperson of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the National Bar Association, and a litigator for more than 14 years.
Ms. Gordon-Oliver will be a wonderful addition to our court.
Francis Sheehan
Town Councilman