"A force to be reckoned with" -Walter R

I met Prof. Vanessa Merton during my initial campaigns for judicial office in 2011 and 2015 when she was a District Leader in Hastings. My first campaign was for Greenburgh Town Court. I was successful in a hotly contested race thanks to her support and that of the Greenburgh Democratic Committee, then chaired by Suzanne Berger, Esq., and Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner.

But what I remember the most was her presence at the judicial convention in May 2017, when I was seeking the nomination for Westchester County Court. It was another hotly contested nomination that would be determined by a floor vote of the district leaders in attendance at the packed Westchester County Center. Ultimately, the two ballot counters reached different conclusions as to the winner. One had me winning and the other had another candidate as the winner. It was a deadlock. Mayhem ensued and Prof. Merton was a force to be reckoned with as she questioned the process. The ballots had to be impounded and a second count held a few days later resulted in my opponent winning the nomination by one weighted vote.

All was not lost, however, as former Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated me to the NYS Court of Claims the following month and I was confirmed by the NYS Senate. My Induction Ceremony was held at Haub Law School.

I also joined the faculty at Haub Law School as an Adjunct Law Professor in 2016 and learned first hand of how revered Prof. Merton was by her many students. I was particularly impressed by how she mentored and served as a guiding force for a legion of immigration lawyers and alumni. One of her mentees is my wife, Isabel Figueroa, Esq., who became a volunteer in the Immigration Justice Clinic at the Law School.

Thank you Vanessa for your support and dedication to the Law School and wider community over the years. I wish you the very best in the next chapter of your journey.

Walter R