Grace Hanlon

BUFFALO – For the first time since 2003, a Chautauqua County attorney will be on the ballot for New York State Supreme Court on Nov. 8th.

Fredonia attorney Grace Hanlon, confidential law clerk to Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley, was unanimously nominated by the 8th Judicial District Democratic nominating convention this week in Buffalo to be one of the party’s two candidates for two open spots this year.

Hanlon will be joining Orchard Park Town Justice Lynn Keane as the Democratic slate for Supreme Court.

The 8th Judicial District of the NY Supreme Court serves the eight counties of western New York that include Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and  Allegany Counties.

Ever since Joseph Gerace, Sr. left the bench in 2003, an array of justices, mainly from Erie and Niagara counties, have made their way to the Mayville office of state Supreme Court to handle what’s considered the caseload of a full-time judge.

There are nearly one million registered voters in the 8th Judicial District and 75,000 come from Chautauqua County.  Democrats Hanlon and Keane will be facing off against the Republican endorsed candidates of Mary Slisz and Dan Furlong.