Increasing Black jurors, courtroom experience are issues in Niagara County judge race By Thomas J. Prohaska News Niagara Reporter Jun 14, 2021 Jun 14, 2021 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 John Ottaviano, right, defeats Michael Benedict for Niagara County judge. Contributed photos Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Thomas J. Prohaska News Niagara Reporter How to sit more Blacks on juries has been a perennial issue in Niagara County Court.kAm}@H :EVD 364@>:?8 2 42>A2:8? :DDF6 7@C EH@ ;F5:4:2= 42?5:52E6D 4@>A6E:?8 :? AC:>2C:6D :? E96 s6>@4C2E:4[ #6AF3=:42?[ r@?D6CG2E:G6 2?5 (@C<:?8 u2>:=:6D A2CE:6D[ 6249 @7 H9@> 4@>6 H:E9 G2DE=J 5:776C6?E CéDF>éD]k^AmkAm%96 4@F?EJ 4@FCED 2C6 :? {@4<A@CE[ H9:=6 >@DE @7 E96 4@F?EJVD q=24< A@AF=2E:@? :D :? }:282C2 u2==D]k^AmkAmxEVD ?@E F?FDF2= E@ D66 2 q=24< 5676?52?E EC:65 3J 2? 2==\H9:E6 ;FCJ[ 2D u2==D C6D:56?ED[ 6DA64:2==J >:?@C:E:6D[ @7E6? 5@?VE C6DA@?5 E@ ;FCJ DF>>@?D6D]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 Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast What is the regulatory future of Mountain Valley’s Boost project in Elliston? kAm|:4926= t] q6?65:4E[ 2 7@C>6C 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J CF??:?8 7@C 4@F?EJ ;F586[ D2:5 :7 96VD 6=64E65[ 96 H:== H@C< @? >@G:?8 EC:2=D E92E :?G@=G65 }:282C2 u2==D 4C:>6D E@ }:282C2 u2==D]k^AmkAmQ*@F 92G6 E@ =@@< 2E E96 42D6 2?5 D2J[ V(96C6 2C6 E96 H:E?6DD6D 4@>:?8 7C@>n (96C6 2C6 E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?D 4@>:?8 7C@>nV x7 :EVD >@C6 4@?G6?:6?E 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J E@ 5@ E9:D :? }:282C2 u2==D[ E96 ;F586 46CE2:?=J 92D E96 23:=:EJ E@ 8@ :?E@ E92E =@42E:@?[Q q6?65:4E D2:5 |@?52J]k^AmkAmy@9? y] ~EE2G:2?@[ 2=D@ CF??:?8 7@C E96 A@DE[ D2:5 96 H@F=5 4@?76C H:E9 }:282C2 r@F?EJ yF586 r2C@=:?6 p] (@;E2DK6< 2?5 $E2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE yFDE:46 !2F=2 u6C@=6E@[ E96 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 ;F586 7@C (6DE6C? }6H *@C<]k^Am kAmQ(92E x H@F=5 5@ :7 x H6C6 6=64E65 :D @3D6CG6 E96 D:EF2E:@? 2?5 E96? :7[ :? 724E E92E BF6DE:@? AC6D6?E65 :ED6=7 2D 2? :DDF6[ x H@F=5 E96? 4@?E24E yF586 (@;E2DK6< 2?5 yF586 u6C@=6E@ 2?5 D66 9@H E92E 4@F=5 36 255C6DD65[Q ~EE2G:2?@ D2:5] k^AmkAmx? a_`g[ %96 qF772=@ }6HD C6A@CE65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^DE2E6\;F586\E96\724E\E92E\H6\92G6\D@\76H\3=24<\;FC@CD\:D\EC@F3=:?8^2CE:4=60hae_h3ae\2hg4\d27b\254b\`6_eh7__25fg]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmq=24<D 2C6 F?56CC6AC6D6?E65 :? ;FCJ A@@=Dk^2m :? 2=>@DE 6G6CJ 4@F?EJ :? }6H *@C< $E2E6]k^AmkAmq6?65:4E[ 2 {@4<A@CE s6>@4C2E H9@ H2D 2? 2DD:DE2?E }:282C2 r@F?EJ AF3=:4 5676?56C 7C@> a__f E@ a_`e[ D2:5 96 925 q=24< 4=:6?ED 564:56 E@ A=625 8F:=EJ :?DE625 @7 8@:?8 E@ EC:2= H96? 4@?7C@?E65 H:E9 2? 2=>@DE 2==\H9:E6 ;FCJ A2?6=]k^Am kAmQ%96J D2J[ V(96C6VD E96 ;FCJ @7 >J A66CDnV Q q6?65:4E D2:5] Q%96J >2<6 5:776C6?E 564:D:@?D 32D65 @? H92E E96JVC6 D66:?8 2?5 H92E E96JVC6 724:?8[ 2?5 E92EVD ?@E E96 H2J E96 ;FDE:46 DJDE6> D9@F=5 36 92?5=65] %96J 92G6 E@ 92G6 4@?7:56?46 :? E96 DJDE6> 2?5 E92EVD @?6 H2J E92E H6 92G6 E@ C64E:7J E92E]Qk^AmkAmQ(6 ?665 E@ C6249 @FE E@ >:?@C:E:6D 2?5 4@?G:?46 E96> E92E :EVD E96:C 4:G:4 5FEJ E@ 8@ 2?5 D6CG6 @? E9@D6 A2?6=D[Q D2:5 ~EE2G:2?@[ 2 {@4<A@CE #6AF3=:42?]k^AmkAmx8?@C:?8 2 ;FCJ DF>>@?D :D 2 >:D56>62?@C]k^Am kAmpEE@C?6JD 2?5 4@FCE @77:4:2=D 92G6 D2:5 E96 >2:? C62D@?D 7@C E96 =24< @7 >:?@C:E:6D @? }:282C2 r@F?EJ ;FC:6D :?4=F56 A@@C 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 7C@> }:282C2 u2==D E@ {@4<A@CE 2?5 A6@A=6 >:DD:?8 E96:C DF>>@?D6D 3642FD6 E96J 92G6 >@G65]k^Am kAm~EE2G:2?@[ 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C bd J62CD[ H2D r:EJ @7 {@4<A@CE 4@CA@C2E:@? 4@F?D6= 7@C ad J62CD] $:?46 a_`f[ 96VD 366? 7:CDE 2DD:DE2?E 4@F?EJ 2EE@C?6J]k^AmkAmp=E9@F89 >@DE @7 9:D 42C66C 92D 366? :? >F?:4:A2= =2H[ ~EE2G:2?@ D2:5 96VD DA6?E 2 =@E @7 E:>6 :? 4@FCEC@@>D[ AC24E:4:?8 =2H 2E 6G6CJ =6G6= 7C@> E@H? 4@FCED E@ E96 r@FCE @7 pAA62=D[ 2?5 :? E96 7656C2= 4@FCED[ E@@]k^Am kAmx? =2H D49@@= 2E (6DE6C? |:49:82? &?:G6CD:EJ[ ~EE2G:2?@ H@? E96 #2J>@?5 qFCC pH2C5[ ?2>65 27E6C E96 24E@C H9@ A=2J65 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J !6CCJ |2D@?[ 7@C 9:D H@C< :? 4C:>:?2= =2H 4@FCD6D] pD 2 J@F?8 2EE@C?6J H@C<:?8 7@C E96 4@F?EJ[ 96 AC@D64FE65 4C:>6D :? u2>:=J r@FCE]k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 96VD H@C<65 :? $FCC@82E6VD r@FCE 5FC:?8 9:D H9@=6 42C66C[ 2?5 AC6D:5:?8 2E E92E 4@FCE[ H9:49 92?5=6D H:==D 2?5 6DE2E6D[ :D A2CE @7 2 4@F?EJ ;F586VD ;@3] p7E6C EH@ J62CD[ 4@F?EJ ;F586D 2=D@ 364@>6 24E:?8 $E2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE ;FDE:46D 2?5 E2<6 4:G:= 42D6D[ E@@]k^AmkAm~EE2G:2?@ D2:5 9:D 6IA6C:6?46 2D 4:EJ 2EE@C?6J[ C6DA@?5:?8 E@ D@>6E:>6D 9@DE:=6 BF6DE:@?D 7C@> E96 AF3=:4 @C A@=:E:4:2?D 2E >66E:?8D[ 82G6 9:> E96 6IA6C:6?46 96 H@F=5 ?665 E@ 92?5=6 2 4@FCEC@@>]k^Am kAmQ*@F 42?VE 36 :?E:>:52E65[Q ~EE2G:2?@ D2:5] QxV> G6CJ H6== 6IA6C:6?465 :? >2:?E2:?:?8 @C56C]Qk^AmkAmq6D:56D 9:D E:>6 2D 2 AF3=:4 5676?56C[ q6?65:4E[ H9@ =@DE E96 6=64E:@? 7@C ;F586 =2DE J62C E@ (@;E2DK6<[ H2D 4@?7:56?E:2= =2H 4=6C< E@ r@F?EJ yF586 $2C2 $96=5@? 7@C 7@FC J62CD]k^Am kAmQ%96 H@C<=@25 92?5=65 3J E96 4@F?EJ 4@FCE ;F586 :D AC:>2C:=J 8@:?8 E@ 36 @? E96 4C:>:?2= D:56[Q q6?65:4E D2:5] QxEVD ?@E E92E x 5@?VE 92G6 6IA6C:6?46 :? E9@D6 @E96C 4@FCED[ 3FE x E9:?< :EVD 2 >2EE6C @7 65F42E:?8 E96 A6@A=6 :? E6C>D @7 H92E E96 ;F586 :D AC:>2C:=J 8@:?8 E@ 36 92?5=:?8]Qk^Am kAmq6?65:4E[ 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C `e J62CD D:?46 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@ {2H $49@@=[ H2D 56AFEJ 4@CA@C2E:@? 4@F?D6= E@ ~EE2G:2?@ 7C@> a_`a E@ a_`c[ AC@D64FE:?8 =@42= 42D6D :? {@4<A@CE r:EJ r@FCE]k^AmkAm%96 }:282C2 r@F?EJ q2C pDD@4:2E:@? C2E65 q6?65:4E QH6== BF2=:7:65Q 2?5 ~EE2G:2?@ QBF2=:7:65]Qk^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 Candidates spar over qualifications in race to be next Niagara County judge One of the main points of disagreement between the candidates for Niagara County Court judge is fairly basic: which man is better qualified fo… Voter guide: 2021 primary elections Early voting began June 12 to kick off the 2021 election season. Primary day is June 22. Get caught up with recent stories relating to this ye… 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
Candidates spar over qualifications in race to be next Niagara County judge One of the main points of disagreement between the candidates for Niagara County Court judge is fairly basic: which man is better qualified fo…
Voter guide: 2021 primary elections Early voting began June 12 to kick off the 2021 election season. Primary day is June 22. Get caught up with recent stories relating to this ye…
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