I am very pleased to endorse Anthony LoBiondo for Town of Newburgh Justice.

I have known Anthony for more than thirty years, and my opinion of his qualifications is based upon many years of personally observing him as an attorney in my courtroom.

I first came to know Anthony in 1994, when I was serving as a Judge of the City Court of Newburgh and he was a young Assistant District Attorney assigned to my court. Newburgh City Court was an extremely busy court with a demanding criminal calendar. Anthony appeared before me on an almost daily basis for several months, handling the calendar, negotiating cases and litigating matters on behalf of the People.

That assignment was an important training ground for a young lawyer. It required Anthony to know the law, think on his feet, exercise judgment, and deal professionally with judges, defense attorneys, police officers, defendants and members of the public. I had the opportunity to see his work firsthand and watch him develop as a prosecutor and trial attorney.

After I was elected to the Orange County Court and took office in 1997, our paths continued to cross. Anthony later entered private practice and appeared before me representing defendants charged with serious felony offenses. I therefore had the unusual opportunity to observe Anthony from both sides of the criminal justice system—first as a prosecutor representing the People and later as an attorney entrusted with protecting the rights of the accused.

That breadth of experience is particularly valuable for someone seeking judicial office. A judge must understand that every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be heard and treated with dignity and respect. A judge must know the law, exercise sound judgment, maintain an appropriate judicial temperament, and make difficult decisions fairly and impartially.

Throughout the many years I have known Anthony, I have found him to be a capable, well-prepared attorney who conducts himself professionally and treats the court, his colleagues and those appearing before it with respect. He has acquired a depth of courtroom and life experience that cannot be learned from a book.

Anthony also has deep roots in our community. He has practiced law here for decades and has served the residents of the Town of Newburgh as a member of the Town Council.

I spent many years on the bench, first in the City of Newburgh and later as an Orange County Court Judge. I understand the responsibility that comes with putting on a judicial robe and the qualities necessary to do the job well. Based upon more than thirty years of knowing Anthony and observing him professionally, I believe he has the experience, integrity, judgment and temperament to be an excellent Town Justice.

As a fellow resident of the Town of Newburgh, I am proud to endorse Anthony LoBiondo for Town Justice and respectfully ask my fellow Town residents to support him.