LAKE PLACID — Essex County attorney Amy Quinn announced Friday her run for county judge in November’s election.
The seat will be vacated by current judge Richard Meyer, of Saranac Lake, who is reaching the end of his second 10-year term. Article VI of the state constitution requires all judges and justices of the Unified Court System — except town and village court justices — to retire at age 70. Pursuant to the law, Meyer’s final day will be Dec. 31 this year. Quinn, of Lake Placid, will begin the initial petitioning process to secure her name on the ballot at the end of February. The election is on Nov. 5.
“Whether or not we find ourselves in a courtroom, our Essex County neighbors, co-workers and loved ones are involved in matters that come before the court daily. How these matters are handled directly impacts each one of us and electing an experienced, hard-working, and impartial judge is vital to the well-being of a community,” Quinn said in a press release. “Judges are public servants and not politicians, and having the experience of representing people and children involved in cases before the Essex County courts gives me the balanced and independent perspective necessary to make just and fair decisions. Recognizing the great responsibility of this position, I believe that my experience, temperament, and qualifications make me the right choice to serve Essex County as its next sitting judge.”
LEGAL CAREER
Currently, Quinn is serving as the principal court attorney under Meyer and has worked with him since day one of his first term.
Quinn’s legal career spans 28 years, entirely in Essex County. In 1996, she began representing both indigent — or impoverished — residents and private clients in the county’s courts. In 2000, she was appointed assistant Essex County attorney, representing the Department of Social Services in matters of child abuse, child support and children in need of services. Over 70% of the filings before the Essex County Judge are related to these and other Family Court matters. The remaining duties of the Essex County Judge are cases filed in Surrogate’s Court and County Court.
In her current role, Quinn supports the judge as staff attorney by drafting legal decisions, evaluating arguments and evidence for legal sufficiency, conducting settlement conferences with counsel before trial and assisting the three court clerks’ offices in court operations, among other duties.
“I’ve been in public service for my entire career,” she told the Enterprise on Friday.
Quinn said she has always anticipated taking over for Meyer.
“I recognize the need for an experienced judge who is able to step in on day one with the experience and qualifications to fairly and expeditiously rule on cases, so that people can have justice,” she said.
Quinn, 53, is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and New England College School of Law. She recently completed a graduate-level certificate in Restorative Justice through Vermont Law School. She also volunteers on the executive boards of the Adirondack Community Action Program, Zonta International District 2 and the Holy Cross Alumni Anti-Racism Alliance. She lives with her husband Andrew, the Essex County Commissioner of Jurors, in Lake Placid. They have two adult sons.