Board has already picked an interim judge, replacement will be named Friday
DELMAR – Bethlehem Town Judge Ryan Donovan will end his time in Town Court on July 31 after 18 years on the Bench. The town board has met on June 12 in executive session to choose a replacement that will be named on Friday and voted on by the board at its June 26 meeting.
Donovan said that his responsibilities at his private practice have expanded and balancing the combination of the two is challenging.
“As the Managing Partner at the law firm of Conway, Donovan & Manley, PLLC my responsibilities continue to expand on a weekly basis and I never wanted to be in a position where I could not give 100% to my position as Town Justice,” he said.
Donovan was first appointed to the bench in June 2006 to fill the vacancy left when Frank Milano resigned and was elected that fall to a four-year-term. He was then reelected in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
‘Resigning was not an easy decision, I will miss working with the lawyers, litigants and law enforcement, but after 18 years it seemed like a good time to step aside and allow someone else to serve,” Donovan said. “I look forward to working with the Town to ensure a smooth transition as I step away.”
When a judge resigns, the town board appoints an interim judge and the position is on the ballot at the general election that November. In this case, voters will pick a justice for a full four-year term, not just the remainder of the resigning judge’s term, on November 5. Donovan’s current term would have run through December 2026, but State law dictates a full term for the election of a town judge.
“It is hard to imagine our Town Court without Judge Donovan. His dedication to the principles of fairness, compassion and to the rule of law are without peer,” Bethlehem Town Supervisor David VanLuven said. “His long-tenured public service has earned him the respect and admiration of all of us in our town.”
The process to pick Donovan’s replacement has already started.
According to VanLuven, on June 12, the Bethlehem Town Board met in executive session to consider candidates for an interim appointment to fill the vacancy. The individual selected will serve until Dec. 31 and the newly elected judge will be sworn in on January 1.
The Town Board set forth criteria that the interim Judge appointee would agree to not seek the position in the fall. The Town Board will officially vote to appoint the interim Judge in its regular meeting on June 26, he said.
When the agenda for that meeting is posted on Friday, the name of the interim Judge will be made public.
“The Town Board and I have selected an extremely qualified and highly respected candidate to serve as Town Justice for the rest of the year,” VanLuven said. “Rest assured, the court will be in good hands with Judge Andrew Kirby and our appointee on the bench.”
“I have truly enjoyed my time on the bench, it provided a unique opportunity to serve our community. I have been extremely fortunate to work with our Court Clerk Holly Weddell, who works tirelessly to comply with the ever changing laws, the tedious tracking of funds and the management of staff. Holly’s commitment and professionalism, which she would never
want attention for, cannot be properly quantified,” Donovan said. “Judge Andrew W. Kirby, an exemplary Judge, has been a wonderful friend and colleague for the past 10 years. Our town is lucky to have him to continue the important work of the court.”
