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.