Jhilmil “Jill” Ghaleb

John L. Lambert

Democratic, Working Families

Republican, Independence

judgeghaleb.com

Residence: Cooperstown

Current Occupation: Interim county, surrogate and family court judge, nominated to succeed Michael Coccoma, who was elected a state Supreme Court justice last November.

A native of Calcutta, Ghaleb’s moved to Utica as a baby.  A graduate of New York University School of Law, Ghaleb returned home and practiced in Utica. On marrying Hany Ghaleb, a dentist with a practice in Richfield Springs, she moved to Otsego County in the 1990s and has been active in family court matters.

Ghaleb, was nominated for the open post by Democratic Gov. David Paterson after being deemed ``highly qualified'' by a screening committee.  She was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate.

Statement from her website:

“Before I became a judge , I served as the law guardian for more than 700 children. I often recall helping a child who was placed in foster care reunite with his grandmother, early in my career.

All he wanted to do was to go live with his grandmother. It was such a simple request. These things may not change the world. But to them it means the world.

You certainly have to have compassion. Everybody should be treated with respect. The most important thing is to be fair.”

Residence: Cooperstown

John Lambert, Otsego County's chief assistant district attorney, noted that “with the exception of our former and current district attorneys, I have prosecuted more felony cases in Otsego County Court than any other attorney in the last seven years.”  “I have argued cases in local courts, county court, Supreme Court and the appellate court in Albany,'' he added.

Lambert, 38, who serves as the village of Cooperstown's attorney, is a partner in the firm of Lambert & Trosset in Cooperstown.

“I think a judge should bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the job. We need someone who is fair, balanced and experienced and deliberate,'' he said.

Lambert was born locally and returned to practice law after graduating from Hartwick College and the New England School of Law.   His father, Paul, is a retired CCS superintendent of schools. 

“My roots are deep, my commitment is strong,” he told a Republican crowd that included county Rep. Jim Johnson, Mayor Carol B. Waller, and trustees Eric Hage and Neil Weiller.
 

“If elected your judge,” Lambert said, “you can be assured that you will have a family man in your family court.”