Once again I find myself attacked for what I write here on Daily Gotham. Once again I am being told I don't know what I am talking about and that I am too harsh. And once again, I wonder about people's ability to read what I write and absorb facts.

I have heard first and second hand of several complaints about my coverage of judicial candidate Roger Adler, running against Devin Cohen (disclosure: Devin is a friend of mine) for the 1st Civil Court seat in Brooklyn. Few people dispute my portrayal of Devin Cohen as having solid integrity, intelligence and a devotion to the community that goes beyond what most of us can do. There is some legitimate dispute as to which candidate has more appropriate experience: some conisder Adler more experienced because he has been a lawyer longer, but others consider Devin Cohen more appropriately experienced because he has more actual trial experience and more experience is Civil Court, the seat they are competing for. Almost everyone agrees that both candidates are qualified for the job, but may differ on their relative experience. All of this is legitimate dispute over two candidates.

UPDATE AT BOTTOM

Thursday May 31st is the endorsement meeting for this year's Judicial elections at the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND). Last week was the endorsement meeting of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) and in preparation for it I discussed my own feelings on the various races and afterwards I discussed what happened at the meeting.

This week, in preparation for the IND meeting, I want to mention a few endorsements, including presenting a letter my wife helped write, but signed by several people, endorsing Devin Cohen for Civil Court Judge, 6th Judicial District. I will start with my wife's letter, quoted in full:

As you know, CBID will be voting tonight to endorse a candidate in the election for Civil Court Judge, 6th Judicial District. We would like to ask you to support Devin Cohen for that position.

NOTE: I am getting emails and calls on this article and am updating as good points are made

As the rest of the nation looks ahead to 2008, and much of NYC is already looking to the apocalyptic 2009 elections, Brooklyn has some judicial races coming up that are proving to be interesting for those of us who are obsessed with local politics. One of those races is for a position that never should have existed, but now that it does, it needs to be freed from the grip of the local corrupt machine.

I know no one who is mourning the departure of Kings County’s second Surrogate judge Seiddio. Rather many suggest he never should have been there in the first place because he never was even remotely qualified except as a loyal tool of the machine (UPDATE: One person says he thinks Seddio has practiced probate law in private practice, which would certainly be a qualification beyond mere cronyism. I have not been able to confirm this, so far finding only bankruptcy law listed for Seddio, but it certainly is possible). And many say the position he filled, a second Surrogate judicial position in Kings County, should never have been created either.