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1275180013239

said he was troubled by the censure and concerned

Family Court judge censured that her nomination could hurt the rest of the
in '05 seeks re-election judicial ticket.

A Westchester Family Court judge who was censured

five years ago for trying to help friends get Goldston, however, said he didn't oppose
favorable outcomes in two cases before her Horowitz's being on the ticket, noting the censure
colleagues is running for a second 10-year term on wasn't about her rulings from the bench, but her
the bench. behavior off the bench.

Judge Nilda Morales Horowitz, a former deputy
county attorney who was elected to Family Court in
2000, is among six judicial candidates endorsed by
Westchester Democrats. County Republicans have
put up five candidates for judge.
Horowitz, who is in the New Rochelle bureau of
Family Court, was censured in 2005 by the state
Commission on Judicial Conduct for her
intervention in two 2003 cases pending before her
colleagues.
In one, Horowitz sought the recusal of Family Court
Judge David Klein — who is also running for a
second term — from a divorce case involving a
close friend of hers who was her child's teacher. In
the other, she tried to help a Scarsdale couple win
custody of a child by telling Family Court Judge
Sandra Edlitz's staff members what nice people her
friends were. Edlitz eventually recused herself from
that case.
The commission found that Horowitz violated
several sections of the law governing judicial
conduct and gave inaccurate testimony. A censure is
considered an official slap on the wrist.
"In Family Court cases, there are often opposing
parties whose competing interests impact the lives
of children," the commission wrote. "When a judge
seeks to privately impart favorable information to
the judge presiding over a matter, the entire system
of justice in Family Court is subverted."
"For a serious breach of etiquette, she was publicly
humiliated," he said. "It was years ago. We're a
county that believes in redemption, aren't we?"
The other Democratic candidates for Family Court
are Klein, Family Court attorney referee Michelle
Schauer, and Hal Greenwald, a Yonkers lawyer who
specializes in Family Court cases, such as divorces
and child custody.
Republicans endorsed Sharon Bell Adamo, an
associate county attorney; Patricia O'Callahan, a
former deputy county attorney, and Williams
Edwards, an acting Family Court judge in White
Plains.
For county judge, Democrats backed Barry Warhit, a
Greenburgh lawyer who was recently appointed to
the bench, while Republicans endorsed Mount
Vernon lawyer Douglas Martino.
County Court judges generally preside over felony
criminal cases.
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County Democratic Party Chairman Reginald

LaFayette defended Horowitz, saying she deserved
the endorsement as a sitting judge with an overall
good track record.

"They didn't remove her from the bench," he said.

Horowitz's nomination raised questions from some

party insiders. Alan Goldston, a Scarsdale attorney,

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Both parties endorsed incumbent Surrogate Court

Judge Anthony Scarpino for another term. Surrogate
Court handles wills and estates and decides
disputed claims among family members.

Judges for County, Family and Surrogate court serve

10-year terms and receive $136,700 a year.

Courts blog

Read more about the law on Completely Legal: http:

//completelylegal.LoHudblogs.com.

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