To the Editor:
(Madison County, NY – Oct. 2015) I recently received a mailing from one of the other judicial candidates that said Madison County “doesn’t need a law professor from Bronx like Patrick O’Sullivan.” As someone who has known Patrick O’Sullivan for over 20 years and who has worked with Patrick O’Sullivan and has seen the kind of lawyer and genuinely good and caring human being that he is, I am here to tell you that the law professor from the Bronx is exactly the person Madison County needs as its next County Court Judge.
When Pat told me that he was thinking about running for Madison County Court Judge, I, like many others, strongly encouraged him to throw his hat in the ring, knowing from personal experience that Pat has the knowledge, demeanor and experience to make a terrific County Court Judge. Patrick O’Sullivan is not a politician. He’ll be the first to admit that schmoozing, hobnobbing at cocktail parties and talking about himself make him uncomfortable. Unlike most politicians, Patrick lacks the ego that makes most politicians want to be the center of attention. His first concern is always how others are faring.
Patrick is an incredible listener and is one of the most calm, wise, insightful, compassionate, fair and non-judgmental people I’ve ever known. I have witnessed first-hand how tirelessly he works for his clients and his skills in the courtroom. Patrick doesn’t just care about winning for winning’s sake. He cares about people and how a good result will positively impact their lives. These are exactly the kind of qualities you should look for in a judge.
Judicial positions are unique in the political arena in that candidates are forbidden from airing their personal views on legal issues (because as sitting judges, they are supposed to rule on the facts before them based on the law and not on their personal opinion) and are constrained by the code of ethics that all lawyers must follow from taking pot shots at their fellow candidates. What judicial candidates are allowed to speak about is their experience and Patrick O’Sullivan is the only candidate that has judicial experience.
With 10 years experience as a municipal court judge, Patrick is keenly aware that his decisions can have life-long impacts on the people that come before him and conducts his court with that thought in mind. As a lawyer who has had the privilege of working with Patrick O’Sullivan and as a registered Democrat, I am here to tell you that he is truly the best candidate for the position of Madison County Court Judge.
I am proud to call Patrick O’Sullivan my friend and my colleague and encourage all Madison County residents to vote for him on Election Day.
Carol A. Zenzel, Esq.
East Syracuse, NY