"My background, experience and expertise set me apart from any other candidate. I will serve the citizens of Dutchess County with integrity, fairness, sensitivity and compassion."

Family Court is a court that deals with very difficult and emotional issues, such as which parent shall be granted custody of children; whether a child is a juvenile delinquent; whether a person’s parental rights will  be terminated; whether an order of protection should be issued;  or, whether someone should be sent to jail for failing to pay child support.  These decisions have a significant and long-term impact on families in Dutchess County.   The next Family Court Judge must have the experience, expertise, sensitivity and patience to deal with these types of problems.

Joan has these qualifications.  She has  been Judge Amodeo’s Court Attorney since 1989, when he first took the bench.  During this time, she gained tremendous insight into how to deal with the problems that confront a Family Court Judge.  In the last 20 years, more than 39,000 cases have come before Judge Amodeo and she played some part in almost all of them.  She learned how to find creative solutions to what at times seem like impossible problems.