To the Editor:

My name is Michelle Holmes Ladouceur and I am running for St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court Judge.

For the past 9 months, I have been working hard to earn the trust and support of the residents of St. Lawrence County. Running for election in a county this size is not an easy task, but I have done my best to meet as many voters as possible to explain what Surrogate’s Court does and why I believe voters should put their faith in me to be Surrogate Judge for the next ten years.

St. Lawrence County is a place that means a lot to me. My family has lived in this County for generations and it has always been my home. I grew up in Madrid and graduated from Madrid-Waddington Central School. I went to college at SUNY Potsdam and then earned my law degree at Albany Law School, where I graduated first in my class. I have lived in Waddington for the last 21 years with my husband, Jason, who is generationally from Ogdensburg, and our seven year old son.

I have spent nearly my entire 23 year legal career serving the public in St. Lawrence County. For 14.5 years, I was in private practice as a partner at Cappello Linden & Ladouceur in Potsdam, where I represented individuals, businesses and municipalities in a variety of cases in Surrogate’s, Supreme and Family Courts. From January 2015 until June 1, 2022, I was the Principal Court Attorney to the Hon. John Richey, the recently retired Surrogate Judge.

For the past several months, it has been my privilege to serve as Surrogate Judge for St. Lawrence County. I was honored to be nominated for the appointment and to have my nomination confirmed by the entire NYS Senate in a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 63-0. Their unanimous vote demonstrates that when it comes to selecting judges, what matters is qualifications, not party affiliation. Judges take an oath to be fair, impartial and neutral. We cannot decide cases based on our own political ideology. We are required to decide cases by applying the laws as they exist, whether we like them or not.

Surrogate’s Court handles all estate filings for residents of St. Lawrence County who have passed away, as well as guardianships and private adoptions. It is an important and busy specialized court. My extensive experience in Surrogate’s Court, both as a practicing attorney and court attorney, prepared me to do the job of Surrogate Judge from the moment I was sworn in by the Honorable Mary Farley. Serving as Surrogate Judge is challenging yet rewarding work, and I am thankful for the opportunity to sit on the bench in my home County.

One question I have been asked often over the past several months is where I stand on the Second Amendment. I am a gun owner as is my husband, Jason. We have had our pistol permits for several years. Surrogate’s Court, however, does not have jurisdiction over matters involving the Second Amendment, so those types of cases will never come before the Court. Similarly, pistol permits are issued by the County Court Judge, not the Surrogate Judge.

As my campaign draws to a close, I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to connect with the people of this County. I am also grateful for the overwhelming support I have received across party lines. I was pleased to be unanimously endorsed by both the St. Lawrence County Democratic and Conservative Committees. I am proud to have the endorsements of retired

Judges David Demarest, Eugene Nicandri, Kathleen Rogers and John Richey. I have received support from several local elected officials, including mayors, town supervisors and County legislators. I have also been endorsed by multiple labor organizations, including the St. Lawrence County Deputies Association, Central Trades and Labor Council, Teamsters Local 687, IBEW Local 2032, IBEW Local 910, Laborers’ Local 1822 and the UAW Region 9. I thank them all for their support and confidence in me. Now I ask you, the voters of St. Lawrence County, to cast your vote for experience and integrity and keep me your Surrogate’s Court Judge.

Michelle Ladouceur
Waddington