(Canastota, NY – Aug. 2015) Marian J. Cerio announced her candidacy for Madison County Court Judge. She is running in the Sept. 10 Democratic Party Primary and has already received the endorsement of the Green and Working Families Parties in the November election.
Cerio opened a legal practice in her home town of Canastota in 1983. She is a sole practitioner concentrating on a matrimonial law and Family Court matters.
“Nearly 70 percent of Madison County Court’s caseload is based in Family Court,” Cerio said. “I’ve protected children in Family Court for more than 30 years. I’ve fought to keep families together my whole career. I know how the courts work but, more importantly, I understand what people are going through. My experience is well suited to handling the realities and the workload of Madison County Court.”
If elected, Cerio would become the first woman to serve as County Court Judge since Madison County was founded in 1806.
Cerio is a member of the Attorney for the Child panel in both the Third and Fourth Judicial Departments. In addition to representing clients in criminal and civil matters, she has tried cases in State Supreme Court throughout Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.
Cerio graduated from Canastota’s public school before being awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Brockport. She received her juris doctorate from the Syracuse University College of Law.
Cerio is President of the Board of Education for the Canastota School District and past-president of the Madison County Bar Association.
Cerio is married to attorney Vic Kopnitsky. They have two children, Joseph and Maria.
Her father, Donald “Biff” Cerio, was mayor and trustee of the village of Canastota. Her brother, Donald Cerio, Jr. is the former Madison County District Attorney.