Date of Birth:  June 12, 1951

Education (College, Law School): Canisius College- BA/ Albany Law School- JD

Date Admitted to Bar: February 1977

Date Term Commenced - Supreme Court: January 1, 1995

Pre-Bench Legal Experience: Erie County Assistant District Attorney 1977-1985; Chief Justice Court Bureau/ Erie County District Attorney’s Office 1982-1985; Town Attorney/Town of  Hamburg 1989-1993 and 1994; January 1993 to December, 1993 - Supervisor Town of Hamburg - interim status; Deputy Attorney- Municipality of Hamburg 1987-1989; Deputy Attorney- Village of Blasdell 1986 -1989; 7/85- 12/94 Private/ General Practice; 1991-1994 School Attorney for Saint Francis High School, Athol Springs, New York; 1/81- 12/85 Police Counsel/ District Attorney’s Office/ for Towns of Hamburg, West Seneca

Professional Associations: American Judges Association, New York State Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Thomas More Guild, Advocates Club, Judges and Police Executive Conference; New York State Supreme Court Justices Association; Eighth Judicial District- New York State Supreme Court Justices Association (formerly President); New York State Defenders’ Association; International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association

Community Memberships: Knights of Columbus; Hamburg Lions Club (former President and Vice-President); member of  St. Bernadette- Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg, New York; Hamburg Historical Society.

Civic Activities: Vice Chairman St. Francis High School Board of Trustees; St. Francis High School/School Board; St. Bernadette’s Athletic Association, former member of Board of Trustees- Erie Community College,  Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Canisius College Alumni Association, St. Francis High School Alumni Association, Albany Law School Alumni Association, Sponsor of St. Francis High School National Honor Society, Member Hamburg Historical Society. 

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Significant Works/ Opinions Published:

Legal:   Opinion published/ Memorandum Decision/ Family Law Review, Family Law Section, New York State Bar Association Vol 29 No. 3 (September 1997): Patricia R.E. v Charles C.K., Supreme Court, Erie County (Common Law Marriage)

As a Prosecutor, i.e. Erie County District Attorney’s Office, first conviction in New York State, use of a child in sexual performance- 1979;
As a Defense Counsel, participated in first televised criminal trial in New York State- 1988

Public: Town Supervisor, Town of Hamburg 1993

Other:  Former member of Board of Directors- Southtown Sewage Treatment Plant (1993); Former member of Board of Directors- Hamburg Industrial Development Agency (1993); Former member of Board of Directors Hamburg Development Corporation (1993)

Speaker for New York State Legislative Committee on the reform of laws concerning sexual assault and child abuse

Former member of the Erie County Task Force Against Sexual Abuse
                       
Teaching: Better Business Bureau/ First Offender Program 1988-1994; CPS Academy/ Erie Community College/ Law/ Teaching. Police Training Academy/ Police Seminars 1/82 - 12/85

Presenter: New York State/ Judges/ Summer Seminars 1996 and 1997

Speaker - Buffalo Claims Association Educational Seminar 1999

Speaker - New York State Bar Association Sponsored Seminar /Do or Die: The Vital Aspects of Your Case Seminar 2001

Honors/ Awards: 1998 Am-Pol Eagle- Citizen of the Year; Commendation/ RID Committee- received as Chief of Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Justice Court Bureau; Volunteers Lawyer Project/ Counsel of the Month/ Erie County Bar Association; Certificate of Appreciation/ Lawyers Fund for Client Protection in the State of New York- 9/92; Certificate of Appreciation/ Erie County Correctional Officers Training Academy- 3/84;  National Judicial College Effective Caseflow Management Seminar - June 26, 2000 - June 30, 2000.  (Office of Court Administration Scholarship); 2003 Advocates Awards - Judge of the Year; Speaker - 2004 Thomas More Guild Red Mass - St.  Joseph’s Cathedral; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association Judge of the Year 2004, Advocates Award 2007;

Miscellaneous Matters: St. Bernadette’s Grammar School Varsity Basketball Coach, Junior Varsity Coach Basketball, Young American Soccer League - Coach Mite Level, Mock Trial Judge - University of Buffalo Law School - Mock Trial Tournaments High School, Guest on WNED Radio - a.m. - Law Line Radio Program, Speaker