It’s been a long time since Maybrook Mayor Dennis Leahy asked State Senator James Skoufis for “home rule” legislation permitting anyone living anywhere in the Towns of Montgomery or Hamptonburgh to serve as Maybrook village justice. But it finally happened recently when Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation into law.

“We have a limited number of people in the village interested in running for village justice,” Leahy said. “This will open up a large pool of possible candidates.”

Village Attorney Kelly Naughton noted that, under current law, an “acting” judge can reside anywhere in Orange County. But the actual justice must currently live in Maybrook.

To implement the state legislation, Maybrook must amend its village code. So the village board will hold a public hearing on a local law to permit the village justice to live in either town at 7 p.m., Monday, October 23.

In the March election earlier this year, there were no formal candidates running. Current justice Joseph Byrne ran a write-in campaign, received less than ten votes and won the election. Although the change could mean competition for Judge Byrne if he runs for re-election, he supports it.

“I agree we should open it up,” he said. “I think it will be good for the village even if it means competition for me; especially in a small village like ours where everyone knows everyone and you have to take off your ‘community’ hat and put on an ‘impartial’ hat.”