First, I’m happy to report that we recently filed over 1,000 signatures on nominating petitions with the Board of Elections. This was possible through the hard work of over 75 volunteers who went door to door on my behalf. I want to sincerely thank the members of our community who signed my petition, and I also want to express my gratitude to our hard working campaign volunteers.

Second, I’m honored to have recently received a “qualified” rating from the Independent Judicial Election Qualifications Commission. The Commission is an independent group of 15 lawyers and non-lawyers who evaluate judicial candidates and rate them “qualified” or “not qualified.” The process is voluntary for candidates, and I was pleased to participate in their review.

During my professional career in Saratoga Springs City Court, I’ve handled virtually every type of case within the Court’s jurisdiction. I’ve also handled similar criminal and civil cases in the majority of the Town Justice Courts throughout Saratoga County. I’ve been an active member of our community my whole life, including my service on the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation and my establishment of the Saratoga Springs Memory Walk to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

My wife Stephanie, our daughter Grace, and I are proud to call Saratoga Springs our home and I’d be honored to serve as your next City Court Judge.

Please support me in my effort to bring fairness, independence and experience to the City Court bench.
For more information on my campaign, please visit my Web site at www.Dorsey2008.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - An independent screening panel has reviewed two of three candidates running for City Court judge, and is expected to review the third.

The Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission in the Fourth Judicial District, which includes Saratoga County, allows judicial candidates the opportunity for a voluntary review. According to the commission’s Web site, the state court system is required to convene the review commission, which appoints 15 members in each district, including lawyers and non-lawyers.

Former City Attorney Matthew J. Dorsey, who has been endorsed by the city GOP Committee, was reviewed and found “qualified” by the committee, as was one of two Democratic candidates, James A. Montagnino.

Another former city attorney, Jeffrey Wait, who received the endorsement from the city Democratic Committee, said that he had not yet submitted the lengthy questionnaire required for consideration by the commission, but expected to do so this week.
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“I will be submitting my questionnaire, and I have no reason to believe that they wouldn’t find me qualified,” Wait said, adding that the commission examines questionnaires on an ongoing basis.

When asked why he hadn’t submitted a questionnaire in the same time frame as his two adversaries, he explained that the commission asks for a great deal of information, which he was in the process of compiling.

“I’ve run into a roadblock because they want a lot of information about clients, cases you’ve worked on, lawyers you’ve worked with and that sort of thing. I don’t have access to all of that because I used to work for another firm, and have since left,” Wait said, noting that he was completing the questionnaire mostly from memory.

Wait, who is running on both the Democratic and Independence party lines, said he would submit petitions today, and said he had collect nearly 700 signatures from Democrats, from whom only 270 are required, and 100 from Independence party voters, from whom only 44 are required.

I’m Matt Dorsey and I’m running for Saratoga Springs City Court judge. Our city court handles both civil and criminal cases within its jurisdiction. Arguably, the most difficult criminal cases involve domestic violence.

In order to deal with domestic violence cases more effectively, City Court is now working with the State Office of Court Administration to become a designated domestic violence court. As part of this new designation, the Saratoga Springs City Court judges and staff will receive specialized training to deal appropriately with domestic violence cases.

To enhance victim safety, an on-site resource coordinator will help victims obtain necessary assistance, such as access to housing and counseling services. In addition, increased judicial monitoring will ensure greater accountability if the defendant fails to live up to his or her obligations under the law.

As a domestic violence court, Saratoga Springs City Court will be better able to address the unique concerns of domestic violence cases. In all matters, it’s incumbent upon the court to ensure that all parties are treated respectfully and fairly. Most importantly, the court needs to see that justice is done. With this new designation, our city court will now have more tools to make that happen, and to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence.

In my campaign, I’ve focused on developing ways we can make our city court more open and responsive to the needs of the community, including a “Courtroom to Your Room Initiative,” quarterly practitioner meetings, and a student internship program.

The establishment of Saratoga Springs City Court as a designated domestic violence court is one more way to achieve this important goal.

To learn more about my campaign, please visit my Web site at www.Dorsey2008.com.

I’m Matt Dorsey, Republican candidate for Saratoga Springs City Court Judge. If elected, I’ll work hard to make our City Court more open and responsive to the needs of our community.

To help achieve this goal, I would start a student internship program in Saratoga Springs City Court for high school and college students. Our neighbors in the town of Saratoga have a very successful Student Internship Program, which they started in 2004. Since its inception, that program has graduated 30 interns from local high schools and colleges.

We’re fortunate to have an excellent public high school, as well as several fine private high schools in our community. In addition, we are home to Skidmore College, and several other colleges are close by.

Opening the program to Skidmore College students, in particular, would bring the benefit of their diverse experiences to the program. I sincerely believe the fresh perspectives of those new to our city combined with the knowledge of long time citizens makes our city the wonderful, dynamic place that it is.

I’ve previously proposed a “Courtroom to Your Room” program to reach out to members of our community. In addition, I’ve proposed having quarterly practitioner meetings with the attorneys who practice before the court. Through these outreach initiatives, we’ll develop more ideas to make our city court the best that it can be.

Saratoga Town Justice David Mathis recently said “We felt that courts should be really part of their communities . . . Courts can do a lot more for their communities than just deal with violators.” I couldn’t agree more, and I look forward to the opportunity to make Saratoga Springs City Court more open and responsive to the needs of our great community. To learn more about my campaign, please visit my Web site at www.Dorsey2008.com.

I’m Matt Dorsey, and I’m honored to have recently received the endorsement of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee for the position of Saratoga Springs City Court judge. I’m now looking forward to bringing my campaign to the people of our great city.

I’ve been a practicing attorney here in Saratoga Springs for over a decade, and I’ve handled virtually every type of case within the City Court’s jurisdiction. During my time in City Court, I’ve handled cases not only as a defense counsel, but also as a prosecutor. I’ve also previously served the city of Saratoga Springs as special counsel for assessment case defense and as city attorney.

During my time practicing in City Court, I’ve gained a great deal of respect for the City Court staff as well as the Saratoga Springs Police Department. These hardworking men and women faithfully ensure the safe and efficient operation of our City Court.

Over my many years of practice, I’ve also had the opportunity to observe my fellow attorneys — defense counsels, assistant public defenders, and assistant district attorneys — practice admirably before the Court.
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Given my experience, I appreciate the institution of City Court and all the people that work there, but, as with all institutions, we should always ask ourselves what we can do better. In order to answer that question, I propose two outreach initiatives: a “Courtroom to Your Room” program and quarterly practitioner meetings.

In the “Courtroom to Your Room” initiative, as City Court judge, I would go out to classrooms, neighborhood association meetings, fraternal halls, and church basements to meet with members of our community. I would like to talk to people about the role of City Court, and, more importantly, get their ideas on how their court can be improved. Through this effort, City Court can be open and responsive to the community it serves.

During quarterly practitioner meetings, I would meet with the various attorneys that practice before the court. The meetings would be informal, voluntary, and no specific cases would be discussed. In this forum, the attorneys would have the opportunity to share with the Court what they think is being done right, what is being done wrong, and most importantly — what can be done better.

It’s my hope that through outreach to the community and the bar, the Court can develop ideas for innovation and improvement. In addition to these initiatives, I would always keep an open door to City Court staff and members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department — after all, they are the people that make our court work well on a day to day basis.

I’m honored to be a candidate for Saratoga Springs City Court judge. I look forward to an active campaign and the opportunity to make our City Court the best that it can be.

Matthew Dorsey is the Republican nominee for Saratoga Springs City Court judge.

The race for the City Court Judgeship continues to move forward with the GOP endorsing Saratoga Springs native Matt Dorsey.

“I am very honored to have the committee support and I look forward to running a very active campaign.” stated Dorsey. “We will have a strong door to door program and try to reach out to as many residents as we can.”

Dorsey, who served as City Attorney under Mayor Mike Lenz, has been with The Dorsey Law Firm for the past decade. Dorsey is a third generation partner at the firm which has been providing legal services to Saratoga Springs for 80 years.

If Dorsey wins the November election, his father will maintain the day operations at the law firm, as Matt takes on the full-time role of City Court Judge, which is a 10-year term.

The Democratic Party is expected to make their endorsement this Saturday, February 16.

Dorsey, his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Grace, all reside in Saratoga Springs.

For more information on Matt Dorsey, go to: www.dorsey2008.com

By Dennis Yusko

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Matt Dorsey, a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs and former city attorney, announced his candidacy Tuesday for the City Court judge seat being vacated by Douglas Mills at the end of the year.
Dorsey, 41, intends to seek the city Republican Committee’s endorsement, which will be decided next month. He announced his candidacy before friends, family and supporters in the lobby of the City Center on Broadway.

“I believe I have the experience, dedication and commitment to be an excellent City Court judge,” said Dorsey, who works in a private city firm with his father Frank. “My legal experience goes back 10 years, and I have handled every type of case in City Court.”

The city court judge seat is a 10-year term. It will be the only city position up for election this year. Democrats have not yet announced a candidate.

Dorsey previously was an assistant city attorney from 1997 to 1999, special counsel to the city for assessment case defense from 2002 to 2005, and city attorney from 2004 to 2005.

Republicans said his experience, dedication to public service and commitment to the community make him the ideal candidate.