We Recently spoke with Judge Tom Daly of the Yonkers City Court, who is running for re-election this year.

Ques:  So, Judge, how long have you been on the bench?

Ans:  At this time, 20 years.  I was elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2010.  Prior to that I was in private practice in Yonkers in partnership with my wife, Carol McEwen Daly and then I was a court attorney in the Yonkers Court from 1996 thru 2000.

Ques: What does a court attorney do?

Ans: Research and writing to assist the judges. Also conferencing cases.

Ques:  What lines are you running on for re-election this year?

Ans: Well, as you know, Judges and Judicial candidates can run on any party line and often multiple lines.  So this year, I am on the Democratic, Republican and Conservative party lines.
The Democratic is of course my party of registration since I was 18.
And the other parties spontaneously nominated me due to my years of work and experience on the bench.

Ques: It seems strange since these parties are often ideologically and diametrically opposed?

Ans: Well, Judges are supposed to be non-political and non-partisan, so being on a party line does not constitute support for any party positions.  This is specifically a part of judicial ethical rules.

Ques: Does this happen often?

Ans: Many years ago, Yonkers Democratic Party Chairman Charles Macellaro instituted this policy together with the Republican Party of “cross-endorsing” for  Judges of either major party who previously won a contested election for Yonkers City Court.  So almost all of the judicial races in Yonkers for the past 50 years have practiced the “cross-endorsement”.

Ques: So you are not the first Democratic to run on the Republican line, too?

Ans: Oh no.  As recently as last year, Judge Maryanne Scattaretico-Naber , a Democrat, ran with the Republican and other parties’ support.  Before that, Judge Quinones and Judge Doran, both Democrats, received the Republican line, and Judge Martinelli, a Republican, received the Democratic line.

Ques: So it seems to achieve the goal of keeping politics out of the judiciary?
Ans:  Oh yes.  As it should be.  Of course, even in a contested race, politics and even debates are prohibited.  Essentially, all a Judge or Judicial candidate can talk about is their work record, experience and qualifications.  To criticize or attack another candidate is not allowed.

Ques:  How is the virus affecting the Courts and your campaign?

Ans: Well, the City Courts are closed, except for arraignments of arrested people, which is done remotely via computer.  It is going to take a great deal of work by all of us in the Courts to restore the system to functioning efficiency once this crisis has passed.  I look forward to bringing my years of experience to that task. Should I be re-elected, I will be Chief  Judge as of January.

As for the campaign, I am basically limited to virtual campaigning through social media and also through mailings.  It’s too bad because for me, a big part of any campaign is meeting with and talking to the people.  (Luckily I am a member of a number of local organizations and we are doing virtual monthly meetings.  Also before the pandemic started, we were able to go to a number of events and groups and mingle)  And though we are not officially campaigning , I’ve managed to meet many people while helping out with food distribution to first responders and others who need food.

Ques: So are you able to do that in any way?

Ans: Yes.   Some of us have been helping Jimmy Nolan (Michael Nolan Foundation) and the Gulotta foundation and other groups by distributing food for first responders and where needed in the community.  So we have that contact.
And I’m grateful for that. And for the opportunity to help out.

Thank you very much Judge