The Villager endorses Nervo for Civil Court
It’s usually difficult to make an endorsement in a judicial race. First, the candidates often aren’t as well known in the community as political candidates. Second, there are the judicial ethics that surround the campaign process: the findings of judicial screening panels are not made public other than whether the candidates are deemed “Not Qualified” or “Qualified.” In the same vein, candidates are not permitted to speak publicly about their positions on issues that may come before them.
However, in the one competitive race for Civil Court judge in the Second Municipal Court District, which covers the East Side and parts of the Central and South Villages, Soho, Noho, Little Italy and Chinatown, one candidate stands out: Frank Nervo, a former president of Village Independent Democrats. Nervo is the only one of the four candidates to have been deemed “Qualified” by two screening panels — an independent countywide Democratic panel and a panel of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. The panels judge the candidates on such criteria as judicial temperament and general competence.
In addition, Nervo has the kind of track record that indicates he would be effective, insightful and compassionate if elected to the bench. He put himself through law school while working as a court stenographer. He has broad experience prosecuting malpractice and personal injury cases. As president of V.I.D. he expanded the club’s free tenants legal clinic to help tenants keep their apartments. In our dealings with him over the years, he’s shown himself to be a levelheaded, no-nonsense and genuine individual.
For the reasons stated above, we feel Frank Nervo is the best candidate for Civil Court in the Second Municipal Court District. The Villager endorses Frank Nervo for judge.
Freed deserves to be a judge
Also running for Civil Court judge, though facing no primary opponent and probably no general election opponent, is former City Councilmember Kathryn Freed, who was forced out of the Council by term limits. Freed had a distinguished record in her 10 years in the Council as one of its hardest-working members. She was always accessible and always on the scene, wherever and whatever the issue. We think she has the right temperament for the bench. She’s shown she doesn’t suffer fools lightly and we don’t think she’ll have any problem whether throwing the book or showing lenience and understanding. We think Freed is ready to don the judicial robes and that she will be a credit and a benefit to the city’s judicial system. Congratulations, Kathryn! Go get ’em!
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