2025 CNYWBA Judicial Candidate Ratings

The Judicial Screening Committee of the Central New York Women’s Bar Association (“CNYWBA”) has completed its 2025 evaluation of judicial candidates running for the New York State Supreme Court, Fifth Judicial District (covering Herkimer, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties).

The CNYWBA’s Judicial Screening Committee, co-chaired by Gabrielle Bull, Esq. and Stacy Marris, Esq., is comprised of members of the CNYWBA with diverse experience and practice areas. The Committee conducted interviews and did extensive reviews of the qualifications of candidates who chose to participate in the screening process. All candidates screened by the Committee were rated as: “Highly qualified,” “Qualified”, or “Not Qualified.”

In addition, candidates who achieved a “Qualified” or “Highly Qualified” rating were considered for a second rating regarding: active contribution(s) to the promotion of gender equality in the practice of law and attitude toward gender neutrality and sensitivity to gender issues. A candidate who received an average rating among the committee of at least 4.5 out of 5 on these two criteria was rated “Commended.”

The results are as follows:

Supreme Court -- Fifth Judicial District

Hon. Gregory Amoroso: Highly Qualified, Commended

Elizabeth “Betsey” Fortino, Esq.: Highly Qualified, Commended

Candace Randall, Esq.: Highly Qualified

Gerard Snyder, Esq.: Qualified

The following candidates declined to be screened and therefore are unrated:

John W. Dillon, Esq.; Patrick Kilmartin, Esq.; Hon. James A. McCluskey; Lydia Young, Esq.

The purposes of the CNYWBA are to promote justice for all, regardless of sex, in all phases of the study, practice and application of law, to ascertain and advance the social, economic and legal status of women through law, to expand opportunities for women for advancement in the field of law, and to raise the level of competence and integrity in the legal profession.

Please note that the listed candidates are the candidates known to the CNYWBA as of September 12, 2025, and this may not be a comprehensive list of all judicial candidates.