WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From Westchester County Democratic Committee. September 23, 2003: Hudson Valley Democrats from five counties met in convention last Thursday, September 18th in White Plains to select three candidates to run for seats on the State Supreme Court - 9th Judicial District in this November's election. The three candidates are all women, and all sitting judges: Orange County Family Court Judge Debra Kiedaisch, Senior White Plains City Judge JoAnn Friia and Mount Vernon City Judge Colleen Duffy.
"The people of the Hudson Valley would be well-served by electing these outstanding judges", noted Susan Spear, Putnam County Democratic Chair. The 9th Judicial District covers the five counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Rockland. No incumbent Supreme Court judges are running.
Judge Kiedaisch was elected in 1995 and was the first countywide Democratic judge elected in Orange County in over half a century. Judge Friia, who ran for the State Supreme Court in 2001, has a strong base in her native White Plains and across Westchester County, the largest County population base in the region. Judge Duffy has been elected as City Judge in Mt. Vernon, and previously held elected office as a City Councilwoman in that community of 70,000 in Westchester.
Democrats hailed the team as an historic first. "Democrats are proud to present qualified jurists who are women - who are worthy of election to the State Supreme Court" said Joseph Ruggiero, Dutchess County Democratic Chairman.
Delegates were elected to the judicial convention, chaired by Westchester County Democratic Chairman George Latimer, from the various Assembly Districts of the five-county region, and voted unanimously for the ticket. "This is a talented and able group of women", cited Jonathan Jacobson, Orange County Democratic Chairman, "and they bring tremendous courtroom experience to this race. We're confident they will be successful".
