Strong support to keep judges
Results from a retention poll conducted by the Washington County Bar Association Court Relations Committee show strong support for President Judge Katherine Emery and Judge John F. DiSalle.
Both will appear on the ballot in November as judicial retention candidates. Retention elections are nonpartisan, uncontested yes-no votes. Once a judge completes an initial 10-year term, he or she can seek retention for another 10-year term. This can be done until they are 70, which is the mandatory retirement age.
Emery was elected in 1995 and retained in 2005. This will be her second retention election. DiSalle was elected in 2005. This will be his first retention election.
Ballots for the bar poll were mailed to 345 eligible voting members, with 189 returned, according to a press release from the committee. Emery received 175 votes in favor of retention, or 92.5 percent, while DiSalle received 148 votes in favor of another term, or 79 percent. Emery said Thursday she was “humbled” by the results.
“You don’t want to take anything for granted, but I’ve worked hard for the last 20 years and have proven myself,” she said.
DiSalle did not return calls seeking comment Thursday.