Schuyler County SCOPE to Host “Meet the Candidates” Night

Finger Lakes Daily News:

The Schuyler County Chapter of SCOPE or the Shooters Committee on Political Education will hold a “Meet the Candidates Night” next week.

Shooters Committee on Political Education (S.C.O.P.E) is a non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to preserving Second Amendment Civil Rights through public education and promoting voter participation.

As part of its mission, S.C.O.P.E. is inviting candidates for countywide (local/state/federal) office to attend its quarterly meeting on October 6th at the Montour Falls Moose Lodge as a “Meet the Candidates Night.” Candidates will be given the opportunity to make a few brief remarks and answer questions from the membership. This will not be a debate but, rather, a chance for interested persons to interact with candidates directly.

Candidates invited include those persons running for Schuyler County Treasurer, County Legislature, New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, U.S. Congressional District NY-23 and others.

Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend.

Oswego County man jailed for failure to pay over $8,000 in back child support

An Oswego County man was given a 30-day jail sentence for not paying over $8,000 in past-due child support, following an appearance in Schuyler County Family Court on Tuesday (September 13, 2022).

According to the office of Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, the respondent was sentenced for a willful failure to obey prior court orders directing him to pay at least $175.00 per week for support of his three children. This failure, court records showed, dated back approximately ten years, and had already resulted in sanctions that included civil judgments, probation sentences, substance abuse treatment and a suspended jail sentences. However, despite the court’s past efforts to avoid jail, the respondent continued to miss court-ordered payments and owed $8,260.00 in back support.

Assistant County Attorney Vinton Stevens presented the case for the prosecution. In court, Stevens argued that the respondent was still not voluntarily making payments and had even quit his job recently. The respondent was now also facing a new child support violation charge, Stevens noted.

Based on the evidence, Stevens said the respondent should finally be incarcerated.

The respondent was represented by Ithaca attorney Francisco Berry. Berry argued that the respondent should not be jailed, but instead allowed to attend a faith-based substance abuse program.

After hearing from both lawyers, and giving the respondent an opportunity to speak, Schuyler County Family Court Judge Matthew Hayden determined that the respondent should be jailed. Hayden found that the respondent had been provided with “a lot of elasticity,” with regard to prior support violations and efforts to avoid jail but still failed to pay his debt for his children. Therefore, Hayden sentenced the respondent to thirty days in the Schuyler County jail.

Getman said he was satisfied with the court’s decision.

“Under New York State law, parents who willfully fail to obey court orders of child support can be sentenced to up to six months for contempt of court,” Getman noted. “Here, the respondent was given many chances to do right by his children, but repeatedly failed to do so.”

“Children deserve their parents’ support, financial and otherwise. Those who willfully fail to consistently support their children can, and will, be punished when appropriate.”

The County Attorney’s Office represents the Department of Social Services in prosecuting child support cases brought in Family Court by that agency. In addition, the office provides support collection services for eligible custodial parents seeking assistance in establishing and enforcing orders for child support.

The County Attorney’s Office was assisted in the prosecution and presentation of the case by employees of the County’s Child Support Enforcement Unit.

The man’s name and address were not released to protect the privacy of his children and family.

Notice of public hearing: Civil legal services in New York

The Chief Judge’s 2022 Hearing on Civil Legal Services in New York will be held Monday, September 19, 2022, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, at the Court of Appeals, 20 Eagle Street, Albany, NY

Topics may include:

• The impact of Judiciary Civil Legal Services funding (JCLS) on the delivery of civil legal services and the fair and efficient administration of justice in the State courts.
• The current scope of the unmet need for civil legal services by low-income New Yorkers and the funding necessary to provide effective assistance to meet those needs, including costs related to pandemic-
• related modifications to legal services delivery. The impact of adequate civil legal services funding on economic, social, and public health outcomes for low- income and vulnerable communities and individuals, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, veterans, and children.
• The economic benefits to individuals, communities, the courts, and the State from the provision of civil legal services where essentials of life are at stake.
• The cost and impact of a funded statutory right to counsel in meeting the civil legal needs of low-income New Yorkers.
• The impact on the delivery of effective civil legal services due to attorney shortages throughout the State, particularly in rural areas.
• The importance of bridging the digital divide, particularly with regard to remote appearances, to ensure equal access to justice.
• The need for increased pro bono services, law school programs, and non-lawyer programs, including the Court Navigator Program and Legal Hand.
• New or expanded community collaborations among legal services providers, law schools, law and public libraries, health care providers, and clergy.

Live Stream the hearing here.

Second Amendment Legal Update, September 2022

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete PDF copy of this month's update click here.