Democrat Deirdre Hay faces Republican Cheryl Insinga for a 14-year seat on the bench of the state Supreme Court’s 6th Judicial District.
The position hears cases in Cortland, Tompkins, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Schuyler and Tioga counties.
Hay has been a lawyer since 1990, and a member of the state bar for 25 years, a news release from her campaign said. Her clients include an agricultural cooperative and global corporations and matrimonial clients.
“On a bench where 30% of the cases are contested divorces, my litigation experience and life experiences are particularly helpful” Hay said in a release. “Sometimes hard decisions need to be made when following the law, but those decisions can be made while allowing the parties their dignity and their chance to be heard.”
Hay has lived in Tompkins County for 23 years, and has a farm and agricultural business. Hay has taught business law at Cornell Law School, is a law book author, and former managing editor of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Journal. She was president of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and has served on statewide boards and organizations, including the New York State Justice Task Force and the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board.
Insinga has 25 years of legal experience, and has practiced in State Supreme Court, a news release from her campaign says. She has served as a partner at the law firm Coughlin & Gerhart for 16 years.
“I’m truly honored and humbled to have earned the unanimous nomination of respected delegates from across the many counties of this judicial district,” Insinga said in a release. “The individuals who appear in State Supreme Court deserve to be heard by a judge with knowledge, experience, compassion and impartiality. I’m running for this position to bring my decades of relevant experience and qualifications to serve all those whose circumstances may place them in State Supreme Court.”
Insinga was a member of the firm’s executive committee and is the public law practice group co-leader. Her primary focus at the firm is representing schools, towns, villages, counties, authorities, fire and emergency medical agencies. She was also an adjunct instructor of school law and ethics at Binghamton University.
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Incumbent Justice Alex R. Renzi, a Republican, faces Democrat Margo J. Garant and Joe Waldorf, nominated by the Republican and Conservative parties, for a 14-year seat on the bench of the 7th Judicial District of state Supreme Court.
Two seats are available.
Garant has been mayor of Port Jefferson for 14 years. Waldorf has more than 20 years of legal experience, his website says. He is principal court attorney to Supreme Court Justice Bill Taylor, and was previously a prosecutor.
