Michael E. Benedict, the Lockport attorney who ran unsuccessfully for a Niagara County Court judgeship this year, will try again next year.
The seat to be filled is that of Judge Matthew J. Murphy III, who will retire at the end of 2021.
Benedict, a Democrat, again will seek all parties' nominations. In June, he lost the Republican and Democratic primaries to District Attorney Caroline A. Wojtaszek. Benedict appeared on three minor lines in last week's election, in which Wojtaszek was elected to succeed Judge Sara Sheldon.
Benedict had been Sheldon's law clerk since 2016, after 10 years as lead felony attorney in the county Public Defender's Office. He said that gives him the necessary experience to be a judge.
“Our next County Court judge must be prepared on day one to not only address complex legal issues – especially in criminal law – but to also seamlessly maintain the operations of a very busy courtroom," said Benedict, a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law.
