Town of Warwick Justice Nancy DeAngelo celebrates 20 years on the bench

Town of Warwick Justice Nancy DeAngelo will celebrate 20 years of service as a judge this year.
In 1999, DeAngelo became the first female judge in Greenwood Lake and continued in office for 16 years until 2015.
Then in 2008, she became the first female judge in the Town of Warwick, overlapping two terms with the village court. DeAngelo has continued as the town judge to date.
Many hats
She recalls wearing many hats over the years including daughter, sister, wife, friend, neighbor, clothing buyer, business owner, attorney, volunteer ambulance Emergency Medical Technician, Lion (first female in Greenwood Lake Lions), and judge.
"There are many more," she said, "and I've enjoyed them all. But being a judge these last 20 years has definitely been one of the most incredible experiences and an education every day."
DeAngelo was born in Boston, one of five children, but grew up in the State of Florida, where her father, who had seen action in Guadalcanal during World War II, was serving as a Marine Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorney.
After graduating from the University of South Florida, DeAngelo became a clothing buyer in Washington, DC., and later, continued her retail career in New York City.
She then decided to go to law school, becoming an attorney in 1985.
Every type of case
DeAngelo explained what it means to be a local court justice.
"You hear and make decisions on every type of criminal, civil, vehicular and animal cases along with Town Ordinances and much more than you could ever imagine," she said. "To be awakened at 3:00 a.m. to arraign a criminal defendant is painful under the best of circumstances. But it has been part of the job for 20 years."
Local court justices are the only judges required to be on duty 24/7, 365 days a year.
"We are part of the New York State Court System with all its rules," said DeAngelo. "But, unlike the other County, State and Federal courts, we are funded only by the local municipality. And although we 'arraign' and make bail and 'Orders of Protection' determinations on felonies and Family Court matters when the Family Court is not in session, we have no jurisdiction over any other determinations in those cases. Our 'fiscal' period is one month, not the usual year, and at the end of every month all funds collected for the court are transferred out and we start the next month with a zero balance."
One interesting fact is that the position doesn't require a law degree or any other credentials beyond residency within the jurisdiction of the court.
'It wasn't my fault' excuses
"My predecessor on the bench," said DeAngelo, "was not an attorney and was a judge for over 30 years. What sets me apart is that I have the legal training and now 20 years of judicial experience."
During those many years on the bench, hearing an estimated 60,000 cases, she has heard every "It wasn't my fault" excuse including, "I had to use the cell phone while driving to let my boss know that I was running late."
DeAngelo's law office is in Greenwood Lake where she resides with her husband, Floyd DeAngelo, who serves as a Councilman for the Town of Warwick.
- Roger Gavan