The Town of Montgomery’s November 7 general election will feature two candidates running for a seat on the town court; they are incumbent Frederick Gorss and newcomer Catherine Lee.
Frederick Gorss, Republican/Conservative
Frederick Gorss, a lifelong resident and justice who has served the Town of Montgomery for 28 years, reruns for town justice.
Gorss received a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Utica College of Syracuse University. He understands a variety of cases and has completed judicial training from the NYS Office of Court Administration and the New Criminal Arraignment Program. Gorss will continually research statutory and case laws to keep informed on all updates.
“I am very interested in staying abreast of current changes to laws and reforms, and research precedent cases in performing the job,” he wrote.
Outside of the town court, Gorss served as a former adjunct instructor at Orange County Community College, former volunteer president for the Riverside Cemetery, and former president of the Town of Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. Gorss has also educated Montgomery’s elementary school students and youth groups on court system procedures through mock trials.
Gorss asserted that he is a fair justice who strives to treat everyone in court with respect and balance and will continue working diligently using the knowledge he’s acquired over the years.
“With my judicial experience, judicial yearly training, my proven track record, I promise to assure our community that I will continue to serve honorably, respectfully, and with the utmost dedication and distinction,” he wrote.
Catherine Lee, Integrity First Candidate
Catherine Lee, a resident of Walden and former Assistant District Attorney of Orange County, runs for the seat on Montgomery’s court.
Originally from Dutchess County, Lee received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Science and Political Science from SUNY Brockport and her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. She moved to Walden in 2000 and served as Orange County’s Assistant District Attorney for seven years. In 2007, she resigned from her position and established Catherine Lee Attorney at Law, a private practice in Walden, and has provided practitioner services to residents ever since.
“I’ve been there for 16 years. I’ve been a solo practitioner, a lot of what I bring to the table is because I’m a solo practitioner…people are always intrigued when they say ‘We can’t get your secretary or your paralegal.’ I’m like ‘No, it’s just me, it’s all me.’ I’m very organized, I’m very focused,” she explained.
As an avid enjoyer of Montgomery with 23 years of experience under her belt, Lee strives to give back to the community using her court knowledge and collaborate with all residents to make the town a better place to live in.
“I’m highly motivated to bring justice to Montgomery…there’s so much that I can bring because I have touched on so many facets of different places of law. I do family, I do criminal, I do real estate,” Lee said.