Mayor’s judge decision bad for Spa City

Saratoga Springs lost one of the finest members of the judiciary when Mayor Yepsen decided not to re-appoint Jim Doern as City Judge. I am profoundly disappointed on many levels by this shamelessly partisan political move. I am disappointed as a proud resident of this, the finest city in Upstate New York. I am disappointed as a Democrat and former City Committee member; and I am disappointed as an attorney with nearly a quarter of a century of service to the judicial branch of our state government.

I do not complain because Mayor Yepsen appointed Judge Doern’s successor in a backroom political maneuver by which she usurped from the voters the ability to decide whether they wanted their elected judge to remain in office for another decade. I do not complain because Mayor Yepsen decided to make a 10-year appointment to one of the most powerful and highest-paid positions in our city with less transparency, less vetting and less competition than that used in the hiring of an entry-level city employee.

I complain because Mayor Yepsen’s decision, based apparently on personal and partisan political motives, has deprived the most vulnerable members of our community, the victims of domestic violence, of one of the most dedicated, effective and tireless Judges to have occupied the City Court bench.

I have had the privilege of attending a number of Judge Doern’s stakeholders’ meetings in his Domestic Violence Court. Judge Doern and his staff co-ordinated services such as shelter, psychological counseling and other community resources for domestic violence victims and their children.

Judge Doern oversaw compliance conferences where perpetrators of domestic violence were routinely monitored, postconviction, to minimize the risk of re-offense. Judge Doern had years of experience and countless hours of professional training in the area of domestic violence. All of this was shamelessly discarded by Mayor Yepsen’s decision to replace him without valid justification.

It is doubtful that Joanne Yepsen will be seeking re-election this year. Her multiple ethical lapses render her unfit for office. On the other hand, I fervently hope that Judge Doern runs for city judge in November. A city as great as Saratoga Springs deserves a judge of his caliber. And if I should ever choose to live under a morally bankrupt Democratic regime, I would move to New York City.

There I can take my corruption “straight up” without having to water it down, as here, with the base dilutant of hypocrisy. — Jim Montagnino

Saratoga Springs