ERICA T. CLARKE was appointed by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh to fill a vacant seat on the Syracuse City Court. A criminal-defense lawyer in Syracuse, she has worked in the local court system for the past decade. Clarke has experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and an assistant corporation counsel. She earned her juris doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2010. After interning in the Office of the Public Defender in Jacksonville, Florida, she returned to Syracuse to work as a law and appeals intern in the Onondaga County Office of the District Attorney. In 2011, Clarke became an assistant district attorney working in the City/Municipal Court Bureau, handling misdemeanor and violation-level offenses. In 2013, she moved to the Felony Vehicular Crimes unit, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony offenses, including preparing and conducting jury-level trials and hearings. Clarke worked as assistant corporation counsel for the City of Syracuse from 2017 to 2019 and represented the city in state and federal lawsuits, including preparing and conducting jury trials and managing all aspects of civil litigation. Clarke currently owns and operates her own law practice, Clarke Law Firm, PLLC, which focuses solely on criminal defense. She attended Syracuse city schools and earned her bachelor’s degree from Keuka College in 2007. She fills a City Court seat vacated by the Hon. Rory McMahon who was elected to State Supreme Court this past November. Clarke will be one of nine judges on the court.

PETER FINNERTY has been appointed as acting Elmira city court judge, effective Jan. 1. He is a longtime local attorney and former Chemung County public defender. The appointment was made by Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell after former City Court Judge Otto Campanella vacated the office upon being elected to Chemung County Court. A full 10-year term for this Elmira city court judge position will be on the ballot for city voters in November and Finnerty has affirmed that he will be seeking election to a full term. Since 2016, Finnerty has served in the Chemung County Public Defender’s Office, including the last two years in the lead role as public defender. In this position, he has handled countless cases in criminal court in misdemeanor and felony matters, including cases in Elmira City Court, domestic violence court, and various local town and village courts. He previously worked in private legal practice for 16 years. Finnerty also previously served as law clerk for former State Supreme Court Justice Judith O’Shea, as an assistant district attorney, and as a staff attorney representing children in family court. He is a graduate of Le Moyne College and Albany Law School.