POUGHKEEPSIE – Democratic challenger Jessica Segal has unseated Republican Dutchess County Court Judge Peter Forman.
The county board of elections completed its count of absentee, affidavit, overseas and military ballots with the unofficial tally finding Segal winning 51.42 percent of the vote, 4,000 more votes than Forman.
Segal, a former Dutchess County senior assistant district attorney and a private defense attorney, will be the first Democrat and the second woman to sit on the county court bench.
“I think it speaks to who I am as a person and my connection to the community. For over 20 years I have been involved in a unique way both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney and in so many different communities. I just connected with so many people for 20 years in terms of whether it be in the courtroom, outside the courtroom, the community,” she said.
Judge Forman was gracious in his defeat and vowed to support Segal during the transition. The longtime justice said, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Dutchess County for the past 21 years as a member of the judiciary. I thank everyone who worked so hard to support my campaign for the past 18 months. Anne and I are blessed to have so many friends who helped and volunteered in many capacities to assist my re-election efforts. I congratulate Jessica Segal on her election and pledge to make her transition as the next County Court Judge as smooth as possible. She has my whole-hearted support.”
Segal has taught criminal law and procedure classes at Dutchess Community College and served as a part-time assistant DA in Putnam County.
