While I think I know much more about politics than the average voter, I admit I’m as clueless as anyone as to who is qualified to be a judge. So I have never and never will say X is more qualified than Y.
The editorial writers at the Daily News are not as humble.
In Monday’s edition, they attacked Brooklyn County Leader Vito Lopez for supporting for Supreme Court “an attorney whose chief qualifications include being the brother of Lopez’s girlfriend”
Nowhere is the editorial is there anything about the candidate – Jack Battaglia’s qualificiations but the News does call him “the worst of the bunch.”
I decided to see if on paper, at least, what Battaglia’s qualifications are by going to the Court system’s website.
He’s a graduate of Fordham (BA) and Columbia Law School. He practiced law in a moderate sized law firm for 10 years, served as counsel to small company for 3 years and was in private practice by himself for 3 years. He was an Associate Professor at Touro College Law School for 10 years and has been a Civil Court Judge 2002.
I don’t know – doesn’t sound like the most unqualified person I ever heard of.
By the way, I agree with the News position about judicial conventions selecting judges. It’s the worst possible system combining the least attractive parts of the appointive and elective system. I just don’t think one guy should be picked on like they did here.