North Country This Week

The Democratic candidate for St. Lawrence County Surrogate Court Judge says that in a specialized and technical court such as Surrogate Court, it’s all about experience.

Michelle Holmes Ladouceur, who currently serves as Surrogate Court judge, is challenged by Republican Nicholas Pignone in the Nov. 8 election. She is also running on the Conservative Party line.

“Surrogate’s Court is a specialized court that handles estate and trust filings for residents of St. Lawrence County who have passed away with or without a will, as well as guardianships for minors and persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and private adoptions. The Court plays a vital role in the legal system and I am passionate about the work,” Ladouceur remarked.

She noted that she has devoted a substantial portion of her career to the work of Surrogate’s Court, first as a practicing attorney, then as Principal Court Attorney and now as Judge.

“In each stage of my career I have been in service to the public, and being the Surrogate Judge has allowed me to continue that service on a broader scale. The issues that arise in Surrogate’s Court are often legally and technically complicated, made more challenging when grieving the loss of a loved one. The residents of St. Lawrence County deserve an experienced judge, and my experience in Surrogate’s Court is unmatched,” she said.

Having been a practicing attorney for nearly 15 years, Principal Court Attorney for 7.5 years and now Surrogate’s Court Judge, I developed a broad range of knowledge and skills. I have strong experience on both sides of the bench. In private practice I regularly appeared and litigated in Surrogate’s, Supreme and Family Courts. During those years, I learned not only the law, but the skills necessary to be a successful attorney, including how to communicate with clients, lawyers, judges and court staff; how to resolve cases to avoid unnecessary litigation; how to find common ground; and how to work under pressure and meet deadlines.”

Ladouceur has been an attorney for nearly 23 years and she says each stage of her career has prepared her for the position of Surrogate Judge.

Ladouceur noted that from July 2000 to December 2014, she was a practicing attorney as a partner at the law firm of Cappello Linden & Ladouceur in Potsdam. During that time she represented individual clients, businesses and municipalities in a variety of matters, with a concentration on domestic relations matters, family and matrimonial law, probate and estate administration, estate planning matters, adoptions, real estate transactions and banking transactions. She litigated extensively in Supreme, Surrogate’s, and Family Courts during her time in private practice.

From January 2015 to June 1, 2022, she was the Principal Court Attorney to the Honorable John Richey, who was the elected Surrogate Judge from January 2015 until his retirement in February 2022. As Principal Court Attorney, she drafted opinions and decisions, researched and analyzed legal issues before the Court and conducted settlement conferences.

“I was involved in every aspect of the daily court operations in Surrogate’s Court. Over the course of Judge Richey’s term, he was also assigned cases in Family Court and County Court and as an acting Supreme Court Justice. As his Principal Court Attorney, I was actively involved in every aspect of those assignments,” she said.

On June 2, 2022, she was appointed and unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate to be St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court Judge, and have been doing the job since that date.

“During the last four months, I have presided over hundreds of proceedings. My appointment has allowed the important work of the court to continue without interruption. Each of the 11 counties in the 4th Judicial District has a Surrogate’s Court, and St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court consistently ranks in the top three in terms of the number of annual filings. It is a very busy Court and my experience will ensure that the Court continues to operate efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the residents of St. Lawrence County.”

“Between my broad experience in private practice and the variety of work I did as Principal Court Attorney, I am also fully prepared to handle matters in Supreme, Family and County Courts should any of those matters be assigned to me by the Office of Court Administration,” stated Ladouceur. “However, first and foremost, I am the Surrogate Judge, and given the volume of cases in Surrogate’s Court it is vitally important for the Surrogate Judge to know how to do the job on day one. I am that Judge.”

In conclusion, Ladouceur said she is proud of her St. Lawrence County roots.

“I have deep roots in St. Lawrence County. I was born and raised in Madrid and have lived in Waddington for the past 21 years with my husband, Jason, who was born and raised in Ogdensburg, and my son, Grayson. I am a graduate of Madrid-Waddington Central School and SUNY Potsdam. I earned my law degree at Albany Law School, where I graduated first in my class in May 1999. I have spent nearly my entire career in St. Lawrence County, and it has been my privilege to sit on the bench in Surrogate’s Court in the place that has been my home for my entire life.”

“For more than forty years, St. Lawrence County has been fortunate to have skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate judges on the bench in Surrogate’s Court. Before Judge Richey was elected Surrogate, he was the Principal Court Attorney to Judge Kathleen Rogers, who was the elected Surrogate of St. Lawrence County for 25 years. Before Judge Rogers was the Surrogate, she was the Principal Court Attorney to Surrogate Judge Livingston for 10 years. If elected, I will strive to continue the standard of excellence set by my predecessors and to be the Surrogate the residents of St. Lawrence County deserve.”