PRESS RELEASE
October 4, 2013

The Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission (IJEQC) for the Twelfth Judicial District, comprising Bronx County, reviewed candidates for judicial vacancies in that District and published the rating for those candidates.

The criteria for evaluation under Part 150 of the Rules of the Chief Administrative Judge include “professional ability, character, independence and integrity, reputation for fairness and lack of bias, and temperament, including courtesy and patience.” The guidelines and procedures for the Commissions, including the information to be provided by each candidate, are set forth in Appendix A to Part 150.

Each Commission consists of fifteen members, including attorneys and lay people, selected by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Presiding Justices of each Appellate Division, the State Bar Association and local bar associations, and represents a cross section of the community in each district.

The Administrative Board authorized the Commissions to rate candidates “Highly Qualified,” as well as “Qualified” or “Not Found Qualified.” Candidates who were found “Qualified” within the past three years were permitted to request reconsideration for a “Highly Qualified” rating.

This year the IJEQC for the Twelfth Judicial District rated the candidates as follows:

• Fidel Gomez, Esq. - Judge of the Civil Court - Qualified
• Judge Doris Gonzalez - Justice of the Supreme Court - Qualified
• Armando Montano, Jr., Esq. - Judge of the Civil Court - Qualified
• Fiordaliza A. Rodriquez, Esq. - Judge of the Civil Court - Qualified
• Justice Norma Ruiz - Justice of the Supreme Court - Qualified

Last year, the IJEQC for the Twelfth Judicial District rated candidates running in Bronx County as follows:

• Judge Ruben Franco - Justice of the Supreme Court - Qualified

Last year, upon reconsideration, the Commission rated a candidate seeking judicial offices in Bronx County as follows:

• Justice Larry S. Schachner -Justice of the Supreme Court - Highly Qualified

In 2011, there were no vacancies for judicial office in Bronx County.

Candidates found “Highly Qualified” or “Qualified” for election to judicial office are deemed qualified for that office for three years, absent any new information that may have negative effect of his or her qualifications and background, pursuant to Part 150, Appendix A, Section 3.

The members of the IJEQC for the Twelfth Judicial District are William A. Gallina, Esq., Chair; Law Offices of William A. Gallina, PLLC; Daniel Aguirre; Earamichia Brown, Esq., NYS Inspector General’s Office; Christopher DiLorenzo, Esq., DiLorenzo & Rush; Frank V. Kelly, Esq., Law Offices of William A. Gallina, PLLC; Veronica Mandel, Esq.; Donte Mills, Esq., Mills & Edwards, LLP; Sandra Montes; William K. Peterman, Esq., Corpina, Piergrossi, Klar & Peterman; Kim Ramos, Esq., Mirram Group; Julian S. Sepulveda; Myrna M. Socorro, Esq., Cordelia & Socorro; Michael Torres, Esq., Michael Torres PC; SergioVillaverde, Esq., Law Offices of Sergio Villaverde.

For further information contact Rachell Sirota, Esq., Director, IJEQC at 212-340-0572.