Seventh District race

DA Tom Moran makes election bid for Supreme Court

Livingston County District Attorney Tom Moran will be on the November ballot as the Republican candidate for the Seventh District of the New York Supreme Court.

Moran made the announcement at the Monroe County Republican Committee headquarters in Rochester Thursday morning.

During the press conference, Moran pointed to his long, diverse experience in law enforcement and the courts starting in 1974 as a Livingston County Deputy Sheriff at the age of 19.

Following six years in private practice, Moran was elected justice of the Town of Livonia and was subsequently appointed DA to replace the late Theodore Wiggins, who was elected county judge.

“I’ve worked in the courtroom for 18 years,” said Moran “As DA, I have prosecuted everything from speeding tickets to murders.”

The Seventh District includes the counties of Livingston, Monroe, Steuben, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Seneca and Cayuga.

The Supreme Court in New York is a trial-level court similar to “district” or “circuit” courts in other states.

Justices generally hear cases outside the authority of the lower courts such as civil matters beyond the monetary limits of the lower courts’ jurisdiction, divorce, separation and annulment proceedings, and criminal prosecutions of felonies.

Moran, 56, would be elected to a 14 year term. Supreme Court justices must retire at age 70, or apply for extensions every two years.

BACKGROUND

The oldest of four boys, Tom Moran grew up in Livonia and graduated from Livonia Central School in 1973.

In 1974, Mr. Moran joined the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff.

He earned his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice/Police Science from Monroe Community College in 1975.

Moran became a police officer for the town of Brighton in 1978, while attending SUNY-Geneseo and Rochester Institute of Technology-where he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice in 1981. Still a police officer, Moran graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 1984.

In 1986, Moran started his law career as an attorney in private practice, working part-time as Assistant District Attorney for Livingston County. While in private practice, Moran represented clients in family matters, divorce proceedings, real estate transactions, surrogate court matters, and as a defense attorney in criminal cases.

In 1992, Moran was elected Justice for Town of Livonia. One year later, he was appointed-and subsequently elected to serve as Livingston County District Attorney after his predecessor-former DA, the late Theodore Wiggins, was elected to the County Court bench. Moran has served in his current capacity since.

According to a campaign press release, “In addition to trying the majority of felony cases, Moran has continually championed the rights of all crime victims, implementing programs and procedures to ensure justice is always sought for the innocent victims of maltreatment, abuse and violence.
DA Moran has modernized and brought a new level of professionalism to the office he has administered for the past 18 years, constantly emphasizing continuing education, training, innovation and the efficient use of new technologies.”

Moran has served on the executive board of the New York State District Attorney’s Association for the past 15 years, and currently is the Association’s Third Vice-President.

He teaches for the New York Prosecutors Training Institute and the National District Attorneys Association.

As an adjunct professor, Moran also teaches for Keuka College in both the Bachelor and Masters programs. he also provides instruction at numerous police academics and in-service training programs.