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Our County Needs A Local Supreme Court Justice

It has been 25 years since a state Supreme Court justice who was from Chautauqua County has been elected to the position. Voters here have a chance to end that drought Nov. 8.

Fredonia resident Grace Hanlon, confidential law clerk to Chautauqua County Judge David Foley, is one of four candidates seeking the seat. Hanlon has the endorsement of the Democratic, the Working Families and the Independence parties.

“This is about having a community member on the bench who’s sensitive to the community’s issues,” Hanlon said recently. “I’ve received good reception so far and I have a lot of legal support as well as the support from residents.”

In recent years, justices from both Erie and Niagara counties have filled the position in Mayville. While they are capable jurists, they do not live here or know the landscape of the county, which can lead to delays in the court system.

A University of Buffalo graduate in 1986, Hanlon went on to attend the University College of London and J.D. Pace University School of Law. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1990 and has practiced law in Chautauqua County since 1992.

She is the 2015 recipient of the Outstanding Woman in Law Award from the 8th Judicial District Gender & Racial Fairness Committee and is also the former vice president of the Northern Chautauqua County Bar Association. She has received the rating of well qualified by the Erie County Bar Association.

Voters are being asked to select two justices on the Supreme Court in the district that includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, and Allegany counties.

We ask you use only one vote – for Hanlon. That serves Chautauqua County best.

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