Race for Niagara County judge turns rough and tumble By Thomas J. Prohaska Jun 15, 2020 Jun 15, 2020 0 Law concept, owl in a judge gavel concept Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Thomas J. Prohaska Campaigns for judgeships are supposed to be about the candidates' qualifications and not controversy.kAm}@E E9:D J62C :? }:282C2 r@F?EJ]k^AmkAm|2:=3@I6D 2?5 2?DH6C:?8 >249:?6D 2C6 36:?8 7:==65 H:E9 92C5\9:EE:?8 2EE24<D[ H:E9 A=6?EJ >@C6 =:<6=J 367@C6 E96 yF?6 ab >F=E:A2CEJ AC:>2CJ]k^AmkAm%96 42?5:52E6D 2C6 3@E9 s6>@4C2EDi s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^``^_e^?:282C2\52\A=2?D\E@\CF?\7@C\;F586\D62E^Qmr2C@=:?6 p] (@;E2DK6<k^2m @7 }@CE9 %@?2H2?52 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^``^`a^36?65:4E\2??@F?46D\CF?\7@C\?:282C2\4@F?EJ\;F586^Qm|:4926= t] q6?65:4Ek^2m @7 {@4<A@CE[ =2H 4=6C< E@ C6E:C:?8 r@F?EJ yF586 $2C2 $96=5@?]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County administrator to step down Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Boones Mill obtains grant for new park project 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Rocky Mount asks residents to voluntarily conserve water Judge Michael Urbanski to retire after long tenure on the federal bench Sale of Hotel Roanoke Conference Center finalized as Virginia Tech prepares to sell whole building Florida's flop, Alabama lead college football Week 5 winners and losers Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director kAm%96J 2C6 CF??:?8 7@C E96 s6>@4C2E:4 2?5 #6AF3=:42? 32==@E =:?6D 2?5 E9@D6 @7 D:I >:?@C A2CE:6D] q@E9 D2:5 E96J H2?E E@ <66A E96 C246 6E9:42=]k^AmkAmQp ;F5:4:2= C246 :D ?@E 23@FE A@=:E:4D[Q (@;E2DK6< D2:5] QxE :D 23@FE H9@ 92D E96 ?646DD2CJ BF2=:7:42E:@?D 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 DF49 2? :>A@CE2?E ;@3 C6BF:C6D]Qk^AmkAmQ(:E9 2== E96 ?682E:G6 ?6HD E92E :D @FE E96C6 C:89E ?@H 2?5 E96 DEC6DD65 DE2E6 E92E H6 2C6 2== =:G:?8 :?[ E96 BF6DE:@?D E@ >J 42>A2:8? 2C6 ?@E 23@FE 2== E96 8@@5 H6 2C6 5@:?8[ @C 9@H x 92G6 :?D:DE65 @? <66A:?8 >J >6DD28:?8 A@D:E:G6[ H96? >J @AA@?6?E 92D ?@E[Q q6?65:4E D2:5] Qx?DE625 E96 BF6DE:@?D 2C6 23@FE E9:?8D E92E 92G6 FAD6E >J @AA@?6?E E92E x 92G6 K6C@ 4@?EC@= @G6C]Qk^Am kAm{2DE H66<[ 7@C>6C v~! $E2E6 $6?] v6@C86 s] |2K:2CK E2AA65 :?E@ 9:D @=5 42>A2:8? 7F?5[ H9:49 DE:== 4@?E2:?D >@C6 E92? Sd__[___[ 7@C 2 >2DD\>2:=:?8 42==:?8 (@;E2DK6< 2? Q~32>2\w:==2CJ s6>@4C2EQ H9@ 5@6D?VE 56D6CG6 E96 G@E6D @7 #6AF3=:42?D – 6G6? E9@F89 E96 4@F?EJ v~! 6?5@CD65 96C]k^AmkAmr2C@=:?6 (@;E2DK6< :D >2CC:65 E@ |2K:2CKVD 7@C>6C 7C:6?5[ w6?CJ u] (@;E2DK6<[ E96 @?6E:>6 4@F?EJ v~! 492:C>2? H9@ ?@H 9625D (6DE6C? #68:@?2= ~77\%C24< q6EE:?8 r@CA]k^AmkAm%96 @?46\4=@D6 |2K:2CK\(@;E2DK6< A2CE?6CD9:A 4@==2AD65 :? a_`f H96? w6?CJ (@;E2DK6< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`f^_b^aa^2=32?J\8C2?5\;FCJ\:?5:4ED\@CEE\>2K:2CK\76=@?J\6=64E:@?\=2H\G:@=2E:@?D^QmE@@< 2 A=62 562= 2?5 E6DE:7:65 :? 2 8C2?5 ;FCJk^2m 282:?DE |2K:2CK H96? 3@E9 H6C6 244FD65 @7 G:@=2E:?8 DE2E6 42>A2:8? 7:?2?4:2= 5:D4=@DFC6 =2HD]k^Am kAm|2K:2CK[ H9@ =2E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`g^_b^_a^>2K:2CK\4@CCFAE:@?\42D6\6?5D\H:E9\>:D56>62?@C\A=62^QmA=62565 8F:=EJ E@ 2 >:D56>62?@Ck^2m[ H2D AC@>:?6?E =2DE J62C :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^_a^af^>2K:2CK\C6:8?:E6D\?:282C2\4@F?EJ\C6AF3=:42?D\76F5\H:E9\3:5\C:88:?8\492C86^Qm2==68:?8 >:DFD6k^2m @7 AF3=:4 7F?5D 3J (@;E2DK6< 2?5 @E96CD 2E ~%q] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^_c^ah^73:\6I2>:?:?8\4@?EC24ED\2E\H6DE6C?\C68:@?2=\@E3^Qmuqx @A6?65 2 AC@36k^2m =2DE J62C]k^AmkAmuC:52J[ 96 492==6?865 w6?CJ (@;E2DK6< E@ D2J H96E96C 96 2?5 9:D H:76 6G6C FD65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`h^`_^`_^H6DE6C?\C68:@?2=\@E3\C6=62D6D\=:DE\@7\3:==D\D23C6D\E:4<6E\C64:A:6?ED^QmE:4<6ED E@ DA@CE:?8 6G6?ED ~%q AFC492D65]k^2m w6?CJ (@;E2DK6< C67FD65 E@ C6DA@?5]k^Am kAmQxE :D G6CJ 5:D2AA@:?E:?8 E92E v6@C86 |2K:2CK 2?5 @E96CD 2C6 FD:?8 2 C246 7@C }:282C2 r@F?EJ r@FCE ;F586 2D 2 AC@IJ H2C E@ DA6H 92EC65 E@H2C5 >6 2?5 >J 72>:=J[Q w6?CJ (@;E2DK6< D2:5] Qx H@F=5 36 >@C6 FAD6E H:E9 9:D =:6D 2?5 D=2?56C 6I46AE 7@C E96 724E E92E 9:D @A:?:@? C62==J :D?VE C6=6G2?E E96D6 52JD]Qk^AmkAmQxV> AC@\#6AF3=:42? !2CEJ[Q |2K:2CK D2:5] Qx <?@H E96C6 H6C6 D@>6 G6CJ 8@@5 #6AF3=:42?D H9@ H2?E65 E@ D66< E9:D @77:46 2?5 H6C6 5:D4@FC2865 7C@> 5@:?8 D@ E@ A2G6 E96 H2J 7@C r2C@=:?6] $96VD 2 =:36C2= s6>@4C2E 2?5 x 76=E 4@>A6==65 E@ =6E E96 #6AF3=:42?D <?@H E92E]Qk^Am kAm%96 4@F?EJ s6>@4C2E:4 r@>>:EE66 >2:=65 2 4@=@C7F= 7=J6C 42==:?8 r2C@=:?6 (@;E2DK6< 2 Q72<6 s6>@4C2EQ 3642FD6 D96 92D >256 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ >@C6 v~! 42?5:52E6D E92? s6>@4C2ED :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am kAmr2C@=:?6 (@;E2DK6< D2:5 D96 H6?E E@ ~9:@ E@ 42>A2:8? 7@C q2C24< ~32>2 :? a__g[ 3FE 56?:65 6G6C 42>A2:8?:?8 7@C w:==2CJ r=:?E@?]k^AmkAm%96 4@F?EJ x?56A6?56?46 !2CEJ[ H9:49 6?5@CD65 r2C@=:?6 (@;E2DK6<[ A2:5 7@C 2 C@3@42== E2<:?8 q6?65:4E E@ E2D< 7@C 9:C:?8 7@C>6C 4@F?EJ !F3=:4 x?7@C>2E:@? ~77:46C r9C:DE:2? (] !64< E@ H@C< @? 9:D 42>A2:8?]k^Am kAm(:E9@FE FD:?8 9:D ?2>6[ E96 E2A6 42==65 !64< Q2 72C C:89E\H:?8 5:D8C2465 @A6C2E:G6 H9@ DA6HD >6DD286D @7 G:@=6?46 2?5 92E6 @? u2463@@<]Qk^Am kAm!@DE:?8 2 ?6HD DE@CJ yF?6 ` 23@FE 2 q=24< {:G6D |2EE6C AC@E6DE6C 36:?8 D9@E :? {@F:DG:==6[ !64< HC@E6[ Qp3@FE 52>? E:>6] }@H >@C6[ A=62D6]Qk^Am k5:G :5lQ73\C@@EQmk^5:Gmk3=@4<BF@E6 4:E6lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^A64<4H^A@DED^`_aa_e_dccgg__dacQ 4=2DDlQ73\I73>=\A2CD6\:8?@C6QmkAmp3@FE 52>? E:>6]}@H >@C6[ A=62D6]k^AmkAm!@DE65 3J k2 9C67lQRQ C@=6lQ3FEE@?Qmr9C:DE:2? (] !64<k^2m @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^A64<4H^A@DED^`_aa_e_dccgg__dacQm|@?52J[ yF?6 `[ a_a_k^2mk^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6m kAmQ|@4<:?8 v6@C86 u=@J5VD 562E9] xD E9:D 2 ;@<6 E@ |:<6 q6?65:4En xEVD 5:D8C2467F= 2?5 9:D D:=6?46 DA62<D G@=F>6D[Q E96 E2A6 D2:5]k^AmkAmx?56A6?56?46 r92:CH@>2? $FD2? t36CH6:? D2:5 D96 H2?E65 E96 C@3@42== E@ 5C2H 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 DE2E6 @7 E96 42>A2:8?]k^Am kAmQ%9:D :D ?@E E96 H2J 2 ;F586 C246 :D 5@?6[Q t36CH6:? D2:5] QxEVD 5:D8FDE:?8[ 2?5 :E 2== 8@6D 324< E@ r9C:DE:2? !64<]Qk^AmkAm%96 q6?65:4E 42>A2:8? 92D A2:5 Sb[___ E@ !64<VD 7:C>[ tI46=D:@C $EC2E68:6D[ A=FD Sa[___ E@ !64< A6CD@?2==J]k^Am kAmQr9C:DE:2? !64< :D 2 9:C65 8C2A9:4 56D:8?6C 7@C E96 42>A2:8? 2=@?8 H:E9 E9C66 @E96C D6A2C2E6 8C2A9:4 56D:8?6CD[Q D2:5 q6?65:4EVD 42>A2:8? >2?286C[ 7@C>6C r@F?EJ {68:D=2E@C y2D@? y] r272C6==2] Q|:<6 q6?65:4E D92C6D ?@ A@=:E:42= G:6HD H:E9 2?J @7 E96 9:C65 96=A]Qk^Am kAm!64< 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ >2?J G@E6CD C646:G65 2 =6EE6C D:8?65 3J $:>6@? s] |@<9:36C @7 }:282C2 u2==D[ H9@ H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`f^_c^ab^?:282C2\72==D\>2?\4@?G:4E65\H62A@?D\492C86D^Qm4@?G:4E65 :? a_`fk^2m @7 G:@=2E:?8 E96 DE2E6VD $put p4E 8F? 4@?EC@= =2H 7@C 92G:?8 E9C66 =@2565 `f\C@F?5 >282K:?6D 7@C 2 v=@4< A:DE@= :? 9:D 42C]k^Am kAmp ;FCJ 4@?G:4E65 |@<9:36C @7 E9C66 76=@?:6D] w6 H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^a_`f^`_^ad^?@\;2:=\@C\AC@32E:@?\7@C\?:282C2\72==D\G6E6C2?\4@?G:4E65\@7\G:@=2E:?8\D276\24E^Qm8C2?E65 2 4@?5:E:@?2= 5:D492C86]k^2mk^AmkAmQr2C@=:?6 (@;E2DK6< 4@F=5 92G6 FD65 96C 5:D4C6E:@?] $96 H2D?VE C6BF:C65 E@ AC@D64FE6 >6 F?56C E96 F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2= $put p4E[Q |@<9:36CVD =6EE6C D2:5]k^Am kAm(@;E2DK6< D2:5 |@<9:36C H2D :?5:4E65 367@C6 D96 3642>6 sp[ 3FE H96? E96 42D6 42>6 E@ EC:2=[ D96 :?DECF4E65 E96 AC@D64FE@C E@ >2<6 ?@ 677@CE E@ 6I4=F56 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E DFAA@CE6CD 7C@> E96 ;FCJ]k^Am kAm|@<9:36C 5:5?VE C6DA@?5 E@ 42==D 7C@> %96 qF772=@ }6HD] w:D =6EE6C 5:5?VE D2J H9@ A2:5 7@C :E]k^AmkAm“x 925 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 :E[ ?@C 5:5 2?J3@5J :? >J 42>A2:8?[Q q6?65:4E D2:5]k^AmkAmq@E9 42?5:52E6D C67FD65 E@ 8:G6 E96:C G:6HD @? E96 $put p4E @C E96 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E] q@E9 D2:5 2D ;F586D E96J H@F=5 E2<6 2? @2E9 E@ FA9@=5 E96 DE2E6VD =2HD 2?5 E96 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@?]k^Am 0 comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Michael Benedict tries again for Niagara County judge The seat to be filled is that of Judge Matthew J. Murphy III, who will retire at the end of 2021. Watch Now: Related Video The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026 August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026
Michael Benedict tries again for Niagara County judge The seat to be filled is that of Judge Matthew J. Murphy III, who will retire at the end of 2021.
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
