By Jeff Lipton
Republican Merik Aaron of Hewlett Harbor, the principal deputy town attorney for the Town of Hempstead for 12 years before he was appointed to a Family Court judicial post in July to finish the remaining term of one judge, finished last in the Nov. 7 election, pulling in 140,578 votes or 15 percent.
Greenberg has been practicing law for 25 years, devoting the last 21 years exclusively to Family Court. She is the borough chief of the Bronx office of the New York City Law Department's Family Court Division, supervising about 20 lawyers in the prosecution of juvenile delinquency cases as well as interstate child support enforcement cases and the collection of child support from "deadbeat" parents. She has personally tried thousands of juvenile delinquency cases and supervised her staff attorneys in the handling of thousands more. Greenberg has been handling child protective proceedings, family offense proceedings and custody and visitation cases, which she will also do as a judge.
"Of course I'm thrilled," Greenberg said of her vote total, after being elected to the bench for the first time. "I've devoted my career to Family Court work."
Greenberg, who grew up in North Woodmere where her parents still live, said she became involved in Family Court "because it's important work." She will officially start in her new post after the beginning of the New Year.
She said those who need the services of Family Court are usually going through a rough time in their lives. "And so they turn to Family Court to get them through that part in their lives," she said. "I would like to continue to do that. I want to help these people and make a positive difference in their lives."
Greenberg is a 1981 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and has a B.A. from the University at Albany where she graduated cum laude. She is married with four children. She is admitted to practice law in New York State in the Second Department and to the Federal Court in the Eastern and Southern Districts. In addition, she is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and the Nassau County Women's Bar Association. She has been found well qualified to serve as a Family Court Judge by the Nassau County Bar Association, its highest rating.
Aaron, who has been practicing law since 1992, was appointed in July to finish the remainder of a term of a judge who was appointed to the Nassau County Supreme Court bench last November. Aaron was then confirmed by the State Senate. At the time, Aaron called it the "pinnacle of my career" to be appointed to the bench. The post expires on Dec. 31. Aaron said he took a big risk submitting his name for consideration for a judgeship because as a judge he is forbidden to practice law, which means he had to give up his post as a deputy town attorney as well as attorney for the Village of Hewlett Harbor, a post he had held for the last two years. He also had to relinquish his private practice as a real estate attorney.
Aaron blamed his defeat on the severe backlash against Republicans throughout the country for the war in Iraq.
"Everywhere I went [during the campaign], and I hit a lot of train stations, well-dressed Republicans came up to me and said, 'I can't vote Republican because of the war in Iraq,'" Aaron said. "It's just a knee-jerk reaction to the war in Iraq and President Bush. There's nothing I could have done about it. It was like a tsunami.
"People were just dissatisfied with the war," he added. "And it's just unfortunate to the judges because there were a lot of qualified people on both sides."
He was critical of the way judges are asked to campaign for their positions, which he called "demeaning." He also said it is difficult for judges to be selected based on their views because they are forbidden to discuss the issues.
As for what he will be doing come Jan. 1, Aaron said he will reevaluate his career when the time comes. "I will leave my options open," he said.
Nassau County Family Court judge vote
(top 3 get in)
- Conrad Singer (D, C, WF) 178,810 - 19%
- Ellen Greenberg (D, WF) 175,883 - 18%
- Robert Bogle (R, I, C, WF) 156,339 - 17%
- Stacy Fleisher Bennett (D, I) 155,458 - 16%
- Patricia Doyle (R, I) 142,966 - 15%
- Merik Aaron (R, C) 140,578 - 15%
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
