PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2010

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 each candidate. The IJEQC has not yet completed its review of all candidates for the 2010 election.

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.

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

• Judge Joseph E. Capella-Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York-Qualified
• Verena C. Powell, Esq.-Qualified
• Justice Larry S. Schachner-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Justice Edgar G. Walker-Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York-Qualified; and Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified

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

• Ruben Franco, Esq.-Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York-Qualified
• Judge Doris M. Gonzalez-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez,-Justice of the Supreme Court-Not Found Qualified
• Judge Stanley Green-Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York-Qualified
• Justice Lucindo Suarez-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Justice Kenneth L. Thompson, Jr.-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Judge John H. Wilson-Justice of the Supreme Court-Not Found Qualified

In 2008, the IJEQC for the Twelfth Judicial District rated candidates running in Bronx County as follows:

• Justice Alexander W. Hunter-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Judge Nelida Malave-Gonzalez-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified
• Maria Matos, Esq.-Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York-Qualified
• Judge Julia I. Rodriguez-Justice of the Supreme Court-Qualified

Candidates found “Qualified” for election to judicial office are deemed qualified for that office for three years, absent any new information that may have a negative effect on 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 Daniel Aguirre; Earamichia Brown, Esq., Office of the Inspector General, Metropolitan Transit Authority; Ruth Friendly, Executive Director and Vice President, Fred Friendly Seminars, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism; William A. Gallina, Esq.; Veronica H. Mandel, Esq.; Donte Mills, Esq., Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, PC; Helen Milonas; John S. Park, Esq., Park & Nguyen; William K. Peterman, Esq., Corpina, Piergrossi, Klar & Peterman; Marvin Ray Raskin, Esq.; Nilda Rivera, Esq., Paul Weiss, LLP; Samantha Serrano; Michael Torres, Esq.; and Sergio Villaverde, Esq.

The statewide screening process was approved by the Court of Appeals following a recommendation of the Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections, chaired by John Feerick, the former Dean of Fordham University School of Law and then Chair of the Commission on Government Integrity. The Commissions in New York City are responsible for reviewing the qualifications of judicial candidates seeking election to Supreme, Surrogate’s and New York City Civil Courts.

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