CARMEL – The Town of Carmel will welcome a new justice on January 1. Members of the Carmel Town Board appointed Dan Miller, a lifelong resident of Mahopac as the municipality’s new justice succeeding Judge Joseph Spofford who leaves the town bench following his election as Putnam County Judge in November.
Miller, a 1985 graduate of Mahopac High School, went onto Stanford University where he graduated in 1989 and worked for a time with Habitat for Humanity before deciding to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a lawyer. Judge Miller earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina.
He returned to Putnam County and opened his law practice.
When asked how it felt following in his dad’s footsteps since Judge Robert Miller served on both the Carmel Town Court and from 1984 through 2011 as a Putnam County judge, the 53-year-old new judge said, “It’s incredible. I am humbled and honored. My dad left a great legacy concerning his judicial conduct and the standards that he set I hope to follow while continuing the good work that Judge Spofford has attained.”
Judge Miller met with Judge Spofford last week and discussed several pending cases. The new judge’s first session will be held on January 6.
Judge Miller must seek election to a full four-year term next November.
He promised his demeanor in the Carmel Justice Court will be “firm but fair. I have a deep respect for law enforcement but also have compassion for those in need of help. I intend to present a balanced approach in the courtroom which will be a reflection on myself and my upbringing.”
Miller becomes a justice at a time when the state’s criminal law system has been altered with bail reform and changes in discovery which will place much pressure on prosecutors.
He said the state legislative decisions will result in “not only a learning curve for me but for prosecutors as well since no case law exists to guide us. My job will be to apply the law fairly and like other magistrates, I will be feeling my way along for a time.”
Former Judge Robert Miller, now residing in Florida, expressed great pride with his son’s accomplishments and “carrying on my tradition: A father’s pride!”
Judge Dan Miller sat back in his chair and described the town board’s appointment as a “dream come true. What better way to celebrate the holidays than for a local guy to serve the community he loves. I have been here since second grade first attending the Lakeview Elementary School before deciding to return because Mahopac and Putnam County are my home.”
