Three months after the unexpected death of Harrison Town Justice Joseph Canella, town officials have appointed an interim judge to fill his vacancy until the upcoming general election in November.
On March 23, Daniel Angiolillo, a former Republican justice of the New York Supreme Court, was selected to fill the vacant position, joining current Town Justice Pasquale Gizzo who has been receiving a stipend to cover the duty of Canella’s position.
Harrison’s new interim judge was sworn in at the town court room on March 26.
“It’s extremely rare that you would find someone with the experience of someone like Dan to take a position in a local court such as the town of Harrison,” said Councilman Stephen Malfitano, a Republican. “His experience is exceptional and we are extremely blessed and fortunate to have him.”
Angiolillo, a resident of Harrison, was an associate justice of the New York Supreme Court 9th Judicial District, which covers Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties, serving in the Second Department of the court’s appellate arm. He was appointed to the Appellate Division by former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, in 2006. Angiolillo served in that position until he unsuccessfully ran for re-election and was defeated by John Colangelo, a Democrat, in 2013.
The newly appointed Harrison judge was first elected to the state Supreme Court in 1999.
Prior to that term, Angiolillo was elected as a Westchester County Court judge in 1993.
He began his law career as a private practice lawyer in 1977. Two years later, he began working as an assistant district attorney in Westchester County.
According to Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, town officials selected Angiolillo because of his experience on the state Supreme Court. “When someone like him wants to be a part of your program, it’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We’re delighted to have him on board, and I think he’ll be an asset to the town.”
Malfitano added that Angiolillo expressed interest in taking the position, explaining that he had strongly desired to “serve his community and give something back.”
Angiolillo, who will be paid an annual salary of $64,421, received his undergraduate degree in economics from Boston College in 1974 and his J.D. degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 1977.
Last December, Canella, a longtime member of the Harrison community, passed away just 10 days before starting his second year of his first judiciary term at the age of 66.
Canella had served as a town councilman from 2001 until the beginning of 2016, when he stepped down to become one of the town’s two judges. Canella, who died of a heart attack, also served on the Planning Board from 1991 to 1999, including five years as a chairman of that board.
Since his death, Gizzo has presided over all town court cases on each of the two-days-per-week court calendar, which he had once been alternating with Canella.
Gizzo was being paid an additional monthly stipend of $5,368 on top of his annual salary of $64,421.
On Election Day, Harrison voters will select a long-term successor to the judgeship for a four-year term, which will run from 2018 to 2021.
Town Attorney Frank Allegretti could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
