Patch 2011 Elections: Family Court Judge

Patch has asked your candidates a set of questions. Check back each day for their answers. This week, we're looking at county candidates and next week we'll look at town candidates. Check out this for the line up this week. Today's candidates are Sherri Eisenpress, Paul Chiaramonte and Karen Riley. 

Party Lines:

Eisenpress: Democrat, Independence

Chiaramonte: Republican, Conservative

Riley: Working Families

1. What community do you live in?

Eisenpress: Clarkstown

Chiaramonte: Valley Cottage

Riley: I live in Suffern

2. How long have you lived there?

Eisenpress: 9 years in Upper Nyack, 4 years in Valley Cottage

Chiaramonte: 21 years in Valley Cottage

Riley: Suffern for 14 years

3. How old are you?

Eisenpress: 49

Chiaramonte: 55

Riley: 47

4. Family?

Eisenpress: I have one son who is six years old and attends Rockland Public Schools. My family and I live in Valley Cottage.

Chiaramonte: Wife Lucia, Sons, Michael 22, Paul Jr., 18, Matthew, 17

Riley: I am married to Christopher Riley, and have two daughters, ages 7 and 9

5. What is your education background?

Eisenpress: I graduated from New York Law School in 1989 Magna Cum Laude. My undergraduate work was completed at New York University, where I received a B.A. in Political Science in 1984.

Chiaramonte: BS Accounting Fordham University 1978, Juris Doctorate Law Fordham Law School 1982

Riley: J.D., Pace Law School 1995, B.S. Cornell Law School 1985

6. Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

Eisenpress: My relevant professional and personal experience is vast and I believe makes me uniquely suited to understand the needs of the diverse families and children that come before the Court in what is likely to be their time of greatest stress and need. Not only am I myself an adoptee and an adoptive parent, I am an active practitioner with over 20 years’ experience both litigating and mediating complex family law disputes.

I was a Professor of Law at New York Law School for more than 15 years and a judicial law clerk for a United States District Court Judge. I have successfully argued many cutting edge family law cases including one where the court found for the first time that an abuser’s behavior toward his victim negatively affects the children and can be considered in custody hearings.

As the current Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Youth At Risk, having previously served as a board member in that organization, I help mentor teens and young adults, working to ensure that kids at risk today aren’t adults in trouble tomorrow. I was a founding board member of a not-for-profit school, having also helped build a school in Africa as well. All of this experience provides me with the background and understanding to be Family Court Judge.

Uncompromising in my belief that our children should never be left unprotected by our courts and other societal institutions, I have used my voice and energies, as a pro bono attorney representing victims of domestic violence and a volunteer for and leader of family service agencies and educational institutions and now I humbly ask for you to use your voices and your votes on November 8, 2011 to allow me to combine my passions - for the law, for public service, and for my home, Rockland County and to work to transform the Rockland Family Court.

Chiaramonte: Retired Prosecuting atorney for 20 years, over 28 years courtroom experience plus jury trials (over 75)

Riley: I am qualified for this office because I am the Chief Attorney and Executive Director of the Children's Rights Society, a Legal Services Agency for children representing children in Family Court. I appear in the Family Court almost every day in cases of abuse, neglect, custody and visitation and juvenile delinquency.

From 1996-2006 I was a Special Victim's prosecutor, dealing with domestic violence, sex crimes and child abuse every day.  By virtue of the positions I have held, I have extensive courtroom and trial experience.  I also have judicial experience.  I was a County Court Judge in 2006, and I am currently a Village Justice in Hillburn.

7. Why are you running for this elected office?

Eisenpress: My personal, professional, and volunteer experiences make me uniquely suited to understand the needs of the young people and families that come before the Court in what is likely to be their time of greatest stress, need and hope for a better future. I am running for office because I want to work in a position where I can give back and combine my passions - for the law, for public service, and for my home, Rockland County.

Chiaramonte: Family Court needs a strong decision maker who is not afraid to make the tough decisions

Riley: I am running for Family Court Judge because I believe the children and families in Rockland deserve a Judge who has intensive experience in these areas and can handle their cases with knowledge, experience and sensitivity

8. What are the three issues that most concern you?

Eisenpress: 1. The impact of family disputes and domestic violence on young people.

2. The cost, expense, and duration of family court proceedings.

3. The need for more utilization of alternative dispute resolutions to resolve matters before they escalate.

Chiaramonte: Awaiting Response

Riley: Regarding Family Court, the three issues which concern me the most are Juvenile Justice reform and alternatives to detention, mediation of custody disputes and decreased time to permanency for foster children.

9. Explain your proposed approach to managing these issues.

Eisenpress: 1. Educate communities and litigants about the Family Court system, available resources, and what they can expect and need to know before they get involved in litigation.

2. Institute the use of alternative dispute resolution procedures so that having a judge decide is the last resort and so that parties can work out a resolution that works best for them and their families and reduces the traumatic impact on the children.

3. Restore public confidence to the Court by ensuring that people know that there is a Judge with an understanding of domestic violence issues and resources, sensitivity to all the diverse cultures and communities that make up Rockland County, and who has the personal and professional experience to make fair and balanced decisions in all cases and for all parties.

Chiaramonte: Getting the information necessary to educate the community and start more programs suited to the needs of the people that appear in Family Court to help them.

Riley: As a Family Court Judge, I will explore community alternatives for court involved youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system, and will impose these alternate dispositions whenever possible. 

I would encourage the Family Court Clerks Office to distribute literature for mediation alternatives when custody petitions are filed.  Also, I would continue to participate in the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project, which seeks to reduce the time to permanency for children in foster care.

10. Have you held elected office before?

Eisenpress: I have no held elected office before

Chiaramonte: Never held an elected office

Riley: I have never held elected office

11. What organizations do you belong to?

Eisenpress: Rockland County Democratic Committee, Rockland Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, New York State Bar Association

Chiaramonte: St. Pauls Advisory Committee, ST, Pauls Athletic Basketball League, Columbian Lawyers Association.

Riley: Rockland ARC Foundation Board, Viola PTA, Nyack and Spring Valley NAACP, American Association of University Women (AAUW)

12. Election website?

Eisenpress: www.eisenpress2011.com

Chiaramonte: www.paulchiaramonte.net

Riley: www.onlyjudgekarenriley.com