Patch 2011 Elections: 9th Judicial District—Supreme Court Justice

Patch has asked your candidates a set of questions. Check back each day for their answers. This week, we looked at county candidates and next week we'll look at town candidates.

Today's Ninth Judicial District Supreme Court Justice candidates are Robert DiBella, Paul Marx and Ed Borrelli. The ninth judicial district includes the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam. Only Paul Marx responded to the questionnaire that was sent out.

Party Lines:

Robert DiBella: Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Working Families

Paul Marx: Democrat, Working Families, Independence

Ed Borelli: Republican, Conservative, Independence

1. What community do you live in?

Paul Marx: My wife, Peggie, and I live in the Town of Somers, Westchester County. (We have a Katonah post office address.)

2. How long have you lived there?

Paul Marx: We have lived at our current address since 1992. Prior to that we lived in Bedford Hills for six years. 

3. How old are you?

Paul Marx: I am 56. I celebrated my birthday, last Friday, October 21.

4. Family?

Paul Marx: one daughter, Jenna, who is 25 years old. Peggie is a licensed social worker who holds a Masters Degree from Fordham University. Jenna is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and holds a Masters Degree in Applied Psychology. She is currently employed by White Plains Hospital Center.

5. What is your education background?

Paul Marx: I have a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School (1982) and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (1977).

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

Paul Marx: The Supreme Court of the State of New York is our State's Court of general trial jurisdiction. It is the Court where most trials take place. My 28 years of actual trial experience is unmatched by any other candidate. Actual trial experience is necessary to be an effective Supreme Court Justice. Without trial experience, or experience representing clients, one cannot have the necessary background or capacity to truly understand that every decision, no matter how seemingly small, has an effect on the litigants.

Recognizing this fact, I have been accorded the highest overall ratings from the various Bar Associations within the Ninth Judicial District of any candidate.

7. Why are you running for this elected office?

Paul Marx: As noted above, I have been a trial and appellate attorney for 28 years. I have experience in and out of the Courtroom that is unparalleled by any other candidate. That experience includes representing clients in diverse areas of law, including personal injury, professional liability (legal, medical and dental malpractice), Labor Law, Civil Rights, municipal liability, contracts, and insurance. Indeed, because of my extensive trial experience, I have the broadest breadth and deepest depth of both procedural and substantive knowledge of the law of any candidate.

After 28 years of representing individuals and companies and trying cases in the State and Federal Courts, where I sought Justice from my client's perspective, I now wish to help administer and achieve true Justice from a neutral perspective. In addition, in recent years, I have seen a degradation in civility in the Courts

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

Paul Marx:

1. The failure, in many cases, to allow the parties to come away from a litigated matter feeling that their view was heard and considered by someone who actually cared. In my experience this occurs because litigants are sometimes not given adequate explanation for a Court’s actions or have not been treated with appropriate respect and courtesy.

2. When a Case is unnecessarily delayed, someone’s rights and ability to receive justice is affected. I want to eliminate unnecessary delays.

3. Judges who are reluctant to admit that they are unfamiliar with an area of law and/or lack actual experience create situations where parties are deprived of justice.

9. Explain your proposed approach to managing these issues

Paul Marx:

1. I intend to ensure that all litigants and attorneys who appear before me are treated fairly under the law and with respect.

2. I intend to ensure that cases assigned to me are adjudicated swiftly and without undue delay, while ensuring that all parties have the opportunity for due process and to be heard. I know from personal experience as a trial lawyer that justice delayed is often not justice at all.

3. I intend to remain open to arguments advanced by counsel (and pro se litigants) and to working hard to ensure that I am knowledgeable about and open to learning new areas or new developments in the law.

10. Have you held elected office before? Please provide details of what position 
and for how long.  

Paul Marx: I have not held elected position before. I was appointed to the Town of Somers Zoning Board of Appeals in 2005 and have served as Chair of the ZBA the last two years

11. What organizations do you belong to?

Paul Marx:

• Angel Flight East and Angel Flight Northeast
• New York State Bar Association
• Westchester Bar Association
• Westchester Women’s Bar Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association
• American Association of Justice

12. Election website?

Paul Marx: www.ElectPaulMarx.com