FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ULSTER COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES EVALUATIONS OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES

The Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Ulster County Bar Association reviewed written submissions and met with both candidates for the position of Ulster County District Attorney, and three of the four candidates for Supreme Court. The Committee is mandated to rank candidates as either qualified or unqualified. Below are the Committees findings and rankings of each candidate. CANDIDATES FOR ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY The Ulster County District Attorney is the chief criminal prosecutor for the County. He or she is responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor and felony cases in the county. The District Attorney's office prosecutes criminal matters in all town/village and city courts and Ulster County Court. The District Attorney oversees an attorney staff of approximately ten full time and ten parttime assistant district attorneys. D. HOLLY CARNRIGHT Mr. Carnright is the current Ulster County District Attorney. He was elected to his first term four years ago. In that position, he is the chief prosecutor for Ulster County. He has thirty years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney. Early in his career he worked as an assistant district attorney for three years. He then served as an assistant public defender for many years, while maintaining a private practice of law. He has prosecuted and tried hundreds of cases, including a large number of violent felony offenses. In the community he has volunteered as a soccer and basketball coach. Mr. Carnright has a strong commitment to his position as the Countys chief prosecutor. His office has prosecuted many serious violent felony cases in the last four years, and he personally has tried several of those cases. He takes great pride in these accomplishments and the high conviction rate during his tenure. He has developed insight as well as practical experience due to his many years practicing criminal law. While prosecution of violent crime is a high priority for Mr. Carnright, in nonviolent matters, he is often willing to consider alternatives to incarceration. He discussed his handling of the pending public integrity matters and his responses to the issues raised by his opponent with the Committee. Mr. Carnright finds decisions whether or not to prosecute a particular matter the most difficult aspect of his position. He articulated no areas which he anticipated significant change if re-elected. He is measured and respectful in dealings with judges, attorneys and staff.

The Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee finds D. Holly Carnright to be qualified for the position of Ulster County District Attorney

JONATHAN SENNETT Mr. Sennett has been a practicing attorney for eighteen years. He has experience as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. He was an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County for seven years. He prosecuted hundreds of violent felony matters, and conducted many trials before juries and judges. He managed a team of 20 prosecutors, supervising their case management, training and trial practice. Since then, Mr. Sennett has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Ulster County since 2006, representing indigent defendants in criminal cases. He was assigned to represent defendants in County Court, providing defense in all phases of felony matters, from pre-trial practice to trial and post trial matters. In his private practice, Mr. Sennett represented clients in criminal cases, family court and a wide range of civil matters. Mr. Sennett has recently taught a civil trial advocacy class at St. Johns law school. In addition, his community involvement has included serving as a Board member of Queens Galley (soup kitchen), board member of Save Them Now (prison re-entry program), New Paltz Town Environmental Conservation Commission member. Mr. Sennett is deeply passionate about his desire to serve as Ulster County District Attorney. He presented a well developed vision for the future of that office, including new approaches to gang related violence, domestic violence, and crimes against children and seniors. Mr. Sennett also believes strongly that matters of public integrity must be investigated and prosecuted. He discussed in some detail the issues he has raised during the campaign with respect to the current handling of such matters with the Committee. If elected, Mr. Sennett would increase cooperation with and outreach to both law enforcement and non law enforcement groups, in efforts to reduce youth involvement in criminal activities. He has high respect for the current staff of the District Attorneys Office, and would seek to enhance their capabilities through ongoing and regular training. He views training and supervision as priorities for the office. The Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee finds Jonathan Sennett to be qualified for the office of District Attorney.

CANDIDATES FOR SUPREME COURT JUDGE There are four candidates running for the position of Judge of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial District, which includes seven counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Renessalaer, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster. Supreme Court Judges have broad authority over all categories of cases. The court generally handles civil matters seeking money damages grater than $25,000. It also hears cases in which a party seeks to enjoin or stop certain actions by another. A Supreme Court Judge is the only judge with authority over annulment, separation and divorce matters. While the Supreme Court has authority to hear felony criminal matters, generally outside New York City, such matters are heard exclusively in County Court. Hon. Thomas Breslin Judge Breslin is currently the Albany County Court Judge. He has also sat as an Acting Supreme Court Judge. He is also the County Court Administrative Judge for the seven county Third Judicial District in which he serves (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties). Judge Breslin is an extremely hard-working judge. Given his commitment to preparation, he expects lawyers appearing before him to be equally prepared. His passion for his judicial service is palpable. He is litigant focused. The Ulster County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee believes Judge Breslins legal scholarship and experience would reduce his learning curve in civil litigation, an area of law in which he has limited experience. The Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee finds Judge Breslin qualified for the position of Supreme Court Judge. Hon. Catherine Cholakis Judge Cholakis currently sits as one of two Rensselaer County Family Court Judges. She also sits as an Acting Supreme Court Judge. In her capacity as Acting Supreme Court Judge, she has presided over and disposed of over 4,000 cases. Prior to her last nine years on the Family Court bench, she served as Town Justice in her hometown of East Greenbush. Judge Cholakis is a personable and compassionate individual, important qualities for a judge. Her accomplishments include presiding over Rensselaer Countys Integrated Domestic Violence Court. However, she candidly admits that she frustrated by the Family Courts huge caseload and expresses that she has perhaps now reached her saturation point with her work in Family Court.

Judge Cholakis has limited civil litigation experience. If elected, Judge Cholakis, who, as a Supreme Court Judge traveling the seven counties within our Judicial District (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties), looks forward to learning how other counties and judges conduct their court proceedings. The Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee finds Judge Cholakis to be qualified for the position of Supreme Court Judge. Hon. Raymond J. Elliott, III Judge Elliott has been a part-time Town Justice of the Town of North Greenbush in Rensselaer County for over 27 years. He has also served as Acting City Court Judge in the Rensselaer and Troy City Courts. He has been an attorney for 38 years. Judge Elliott is a personable and unassuming individual. He represented he is from humble beginnings. Judge Elliot prides himself on doing own his legal research and writing, but realizes he will need to learn to delegate some of his duties in this regard. Judge Elliott has limited trial experience as an attorney. If elected, he would be willing to serve, as assigned, in any of the seven counties which make up the Third Judicial District. The Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee finds Judge Elliott to be qualified for the position of Supreme Court Judge. Guy Roemer, Esq. Supreme Court Judge Candidate, attorney Guy Roemer of Watervliet, was invited to submit writing samples and appear for an interview before the Ulster County Bar Association Candidate Evaluation Committee. Mr. Roemer did not do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Schneer, Esq. 23 Crown Street Kingston, NY 12401 845-658-7578 dsschneer@aol.com