Rory Brady

| 14 Mar 2013 | 05:18

My name is Rory Brady. I am running for village justice because i possess the legal and administrative skills necessary to successfully perform the duties required by this position.

Our village court has jurisdiction over a broad range of matters, including vehicle and traffic matters, small claims, evictions, civil matters and criminal offenses. The justice’s principal duties involve adjudicating legal matters within the court’s jurisdiction and administering money collected from fines, bails, surcharges, and civil fees. Our court collects monies in excess of $400,000 per year. Clearly there is more to being a judge than just sitting at the bench.

I possess the legal background necessary to adjudicate the legal matters coming before the village court. Our family firm, a highly reputable litigation practice in the village, covers all the areas of law that come before our court. Early in my legal career, I spent two summers training under the Hon. Robert Onofry, the Orange County Surrogate Court Justice and Acting Supreme Court Justice. In 2010, I worked pro bono, conducting research and drafting memorandum regarding legal issues facing the constituents of the 99th Assembly District (including Goshen) under Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt. Prior to that I acted as a sentencing advocate for Court Consultation Services, a private defense-based sentencing advocacy and capital mitigation firm. Finally, along with the other village board members, I legislate on legal matters facing village residents. This broad spectrum of experience has equipped me to perform the judicial portion of the bifurcated role of justice.

Not to be overlooked or understated is my administrative experience. As noted above, a justice is responsible for the administration of the court at the municipal level. It is vital that the administrative role be given the same due diligence as the judicial role. Having worked on the last two village budgets, first as the chairman of the Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee in 2011 and then as a trustee in 2012, I know the importance of keeping a close eye on the village taxpayer’s pocketbook. I will also call upon my seven-plus years in management, three heading up the sales division of two professional sports franchises and four running the business side of our family law firm, to bring much-needed oversight back to the justice department.

Living here, working here, and raising my family here, I have a vested interest in the present and future of this village. When our former Justice resigned the Village post in November without notice our Village’s present and future were put in peril. As a resident I can’t help but ask the question why? I believe that our residents deserve a village justice who wants to be in this role, and believe I am the person most capable of fulfilling those duties.