Little Falls, NY – In another episode of the Small Town Life podcast, host Dave welcomes Elizabeth Snyder Fortino, a lifelong Herkimer County native and seasoned attorney, as she discusses her candidacy for Supreme Court Judge in New York’s 5th Judicial District.
Born in Albany but raised in West Winfield, Snyder Fortino comes from a family of lawyers—her parents ran a practice on Route 20, and all four siblings, plus extended relatives, are admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court bar.
With 24 years in public interest law, she serves as director of the Mental Hygiene Legal Service, advocating for those with mental health and developmental disabilities across four offices and 65 attorneys.
A certified teacher and adjunct professor at SUNY Oswego, SUNY Poly, and Utica University, she blends her passions for education and justice, drawing from personal experience as a mother of two boys with autism.
Running for one of four open seats in the six-county district (Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Onondaga, Oneida, and Herkimer), Snyder Fortino emphasizes fair, law-guided decisions to prevent appeals and ensure due process.
“I want to be the judge that’s 100% guided by the law,” she says, highlighting her mediation skills and commitment to efficient, accommodating courtrooms amid rising caseloads from recent mental health reforms.
The 14-year term race features eight candidates, with early voting beginning this month ahead of the November 4 election.
Snyder Fortino, appointed to Chief Judge Rowan Wilson’s Judicial Task Force on Mental Health, stresses community involvement: “Get out there and vote—your voices matter, especially with potential district changes.”
Tune in to hear her inspiring story, from family legacy to courtroom battles, on the latest Small Town Life episode. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform now