504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Civil Court Manhattan Mary V. Rosado's response)

Candidate Name: Mary V. Rosado

Candidate for: Civil Court in the 7th Municipal District, Borough of Manhattan

Campaign Manager: B. Kathleen Munguia, Esq. (Treasurer)

Phone: 914-325-2729

Campaign Name: Rosado for Civil Court

Campaign Address: P.O. Box 288H, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583

Contact Person: B. Kathleen Munguia, Esq.

Phone: 914-325-2729

Email: rosadocivcrt@aol.com

Key endorsements to date:

Political leaders: City Council Member Alan Gerson

Local community leaders:

David Taylor, Executive Director of Presbyterian Senior Services
Arthur Schiff, District Leader, Lexington Democratic Club
Phyllis E. Gunther, District Leader, Ansonia Independent Democratic Club

Please describe any experience with disability you have had in your life or career.

I am an attorney handling predominantly guardianship and/or elder matters. I have an extensive background dealing with people with disabilities, mental and/or physical disabilities. I serve as guardian ad litem in hundreds of cases in housing parts in the various counties. Every judge, regardless of their political leanings, appoints me to represent individuals with disabilities. I also serve as guardian, attorney and court evaluator in guardianship matters (Article 81 proceedings in Supreme Court). I have been engaged in this practice since 1997.

I also have a brother who was diagnosed with mental disability as a teen-ager. Since I was the eldest, I handled many of the initial visits to medical providers.
How will you incorporate people with disabilities into your campaign? Are you willing to hire and use flex-time and job-sharing if necessary?

I am willing to hire individual with disabilities and will do whatever is necessary to accommodate their needs.
If you are in private practice, is your office accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to ensure access?

Yes, it is.
Is the courthouse in which you work accessible to people with all kinds of disabilities? If not, what have you done to ensure access?

I do not work directly in the court house. However, I do practice there almost on a daily basis and as far as I have determined, the court buildings are accessible to individual with disabilities.
Has a person with a disability appeared before your court as a juror or litigant? If so, please indicate what, if any, challenges arose? And how were they handled?

As an advocate for people with physical and mental disabilities, I frequently see and deal with litigants with disabilities in court. The challenges facing clients with physical disabilities are easily handled. The court buildings are generally wheel chair accessible, etc. I also represent individuals with mental disabilities and those present greater challenges because sometimes they become agitated or they want to continue speaking to the judge, despite the fact that the judge does not wish to hear anything further. In those situations, for the most part, the judge and I have been able to calm down the individual(s).
Do you believe that a deaf or a blind person can serve as a juror? Why or why not?

Yes, every one has an absolute right to serve as a juror. The courts must make reasonable accommodations for these individuals. In the case of the deaf person, the court must provide a sign language interpreter. With respect to the blind person, it is more difficult. As you know, determining a person's credibility at trial sometimes can only be assessed by the body language and demeanor of the individual. Does description by another individual suffice to permit the blind juror to make an independent assessment? There is also the issue of costs to the courts.
Are you willing to hire on a job share or full time basis, a qualified law clerk/secretary with a disability?

Yes.
How will you work within the court structure to assure the accessibility of all facilities of the courts? For example, participation in the Committee for People with Disabilities, relevant training opportunities?

As a judge, I am limited to what I can do. However, I can certainly participate in bar association committee(s) and advocate for full accessibility of all facilities. I also think that efforts must be made to insure that litigants with disabilities are allowed their say in court.

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