AUBURN - Auburn City Court Judge Michael F. McKeon will be running for another 10-year term. The judge's present term ends in January.
“I hereby announce my formal candidacy for city court judge,” McKeon told a group of nearly 100, heavily laced with Democrats, at his Charles Street residence in Auburn Saturday.
He also named as the chairman of his campaign committee the Hon. James G. Cuddy, his predecessor as city court judge,
“Jim will not only be an asset to the campaign, he has 30 years in politics,” he said. “I'm asking the voters to give me an opportunity to serve another term.”
McKeon decided to hold a coffee hour for his announcement in honor of his father, William McKeon, who, he said, was there in spirit if not in body.
“I remember my father dragging my brother and me to functions like this. He would have been awed by this gathering. I wouldn't be here without my father,” he said.
McKeon has been city court judge since Jan. 1, 1999. Prior to that time, he was Auburn's corporation counsel. He became a lawyer in 1979. He has also taught at Cayuga Community College as an adjunct professor for 27 years.
McKeon said City Court is the busiest court in Cayuga County.
“We're not just a criminal court,” he said, “but we also handle civil cases. It's the alphabet court also. We handle everything from A to Z.”
The judge worked at finding innovative ways to deal with repeat offenders committing crimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to support their addiction, as well as crimes of domestic violence, he said.
“It was a revolving-door court,” he said. “We would put someone in jail for a maximum of one year, but the cycle kept repeating itself. I said that's not working. Seventy percent of the crimes committed were done while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
He helped establish four courts: Auburn Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, Domestic Violence Court, DWI Monitoring Court, and Mental Health Monitoring Court.
The court takes third, fourth, and fifth offenders and requires them to return to court regularly for review, compliance and progress in court-ordered treatment programs. The offenders' awareness of the effect of their conduct on themselves and society is heightened, and they are held accountable, he said.
“One-hundred-and-nineteen individuals arrested for DWI came through drug court in the last five years,” McKeon said. “Of those, only one person re-offended.”
McKeon has a wife, Diane, son, Brian, 27, and twin daughters, Margaret-Kelly and Kathryn, 24.
“I would like to continue to serve the public and to continue to make a difference,” McKeon said. “City Court is the backbone of the justice system. It's a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction. There's a great interaction with the public. I am privileged to serve friends, neighbors, and all of the people in the city of Auburn. You've honored me, you've honored my family, and, lastly, you've honored my father.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
He also named as the chairman of his campaign committee the Hon. James G. Cuddy, his predecessor as city court judge,
“Jim will not only be an asset to the campaign, he has 30 years in politics,” he said. “I'm asking the voters to give me an opportunity to serve another term.”
McKeon decided to hold a coffee hour for his announcement in honor of his father, William McKeon, who, he said, was there in spirit if not in body.
“I remember my father dragging my brother and me to functions like this. He would have been awed by this gathering. I wouldn't be here without my father,” he said.
McKeon has been city court judge since Jan. 1, 1999. Prior to that time, he was Auburn's corporation counsel. He became a lawyer in 1979. He has also taught at Cayuga Community College as an adjunct professor for 27 years.
McKeon said City Court is the busiest court in Cayuga County.
“We're not just a criminal court,” he said, “but we also handle civil cases. It's the alphabet court also. We handle everything from A to Z.”
The judge worked at finding innovative ways to deal with repeat offenders committing crimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to support their addiction, as well as crimes of domestic violence, he said.
“It was a revolving-door court,” he said. “We would put someone in jail for a maximum of one year, but the cycle kept repeating itself. I said that's not working. Seventy percent of the crimes committed were done while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
He helped establish four courts: Auburn Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, Domestic Violence Court, DWI Monitoring Court, and Mental Health Monitoring Court.
The court takes third, fourth, and fifth offenders and requires them to return to court regularly for review, compliance and progress in court-ordered treatment programs. The offenders' awareness of the effect of their conduct on themselves and society is heightened, and they are held accountable, he said.
“One-hundred-and-nineteen individuals arrested for DWI came through drug court in the last five years,” McKeon said. “Of those, only one person re-offended.”
McKeon has a wife, Diane, son, Brian, 27, and twin daughters, Margaret-Kelly and Kathryn, 24.
“I would like to continue to serve the public and to continue to make a difference,” McKeon said. “City Court is the backbone of the justice system. It's a court of civil and criminal jurisdiction. There's a great interaction with the public. I am privileged to serve friends, neighbors, and all of the people in the city of Auburn. You've honored me, you've honored my family, and, lastly, you've honored my father.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
