New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District
ⓘ About
7 candidates are tracked for New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Craig R. Bucki, Anne E. Joynt, Michael L. Amodeo, Robert N. Richardson, Deanne M. Tripi, Jonathan S. Hickey and Robert R. Vario. Candidate information follows official Erie County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
About this race
Voters choose 4 justices. Supreme Court justices are elected by judicial district; the 8th Judicial District covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties, so this race is on every ballot there. Names and party lines follow the State Board of Elections certification for the November 3, 2026 ballot; a name listed on more than one party line is one candidate.
What this office does
Appellate or supreme court justice. Appellate judges review decisions of trial courts for legal error rather than retrying facts. A state supreme court is the final word on state law and the state constitution. Candidates may describe their experience and judicial philosophy but may not promise outcomes in particular cases.
This race. Voters choose 4; the top 4 finishers win seats.
New York › Erie County › New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District
Craig R. Bucki
Democratic, Working Families
Biography
Craig R. Bucki is an elected partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, where he has practiced litigation for nearly twenty years across commercial disputes, matrimonial actions, foreclosure cases, personal injury, constitutional law and land use matters, per his campaign site. He holds a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and a B.A. from Yale University, and is admitted to practice in New York state courts, several federal district courts, the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, per his campaign site.
Making sure everyone is heard and that every person's experience matters in court
Per the campaign site.
Biography
Anne E. Joynt is an attorney at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, where she has practiced for 22 years representing injured workers and families, per the Orleans Hub. A 1998 Medina High School graduate with a law degree from the University at Buffalo, she was rated Well Qualified by the Bar Association of Erie County. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Michael L. Amodeo
Democratic, Republican, Working Families
Biography
Michael L. Amodeo is principal law clerk to Appellate Division, Fourth Department, Justice Craig Hannah, per the Erie County Democratic Committee. He received cross-party endorsements for the 2026 Supreme Court race and was rated Qualified by the Bar Association of Erie County. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Robert N. Richardson
Democratic, Republican, Conservative
Biography
Robert N. Richardson is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Supreme Court Justice in the 8th Judicial District (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans & Wyoming) on the Democratic, Republican, Conservative lines, per the State Board of Elections' amended certification of September 4, 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Deanne M. Tripi
Republican, Conservative
Biography
Deanne M. Tripi is a judge of the Erie County Family Court, first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2023, per her campaign site. She earned her law degree from Pace University's Elisabeth Haub School of Law in 1995 and was admitted to the New York bar in 1996, per her campaign site. Before joining the bench she spent 18 years in private practice, including 11 years as a partner at the firm of Palmer, Murphy and Tripi handling Family Court and Supreme Court civil matters, per her campaign site.
Jonathan S. Hickey is a Clarence Town Justice, per the Town of Clarence's official court roster. A 2001 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, he is a founding member of the Buffalo law firm Burden, Gulisano and Hickey, which defends product manufacturers and transportation companies, per a University at Buffalo School of Law alumni profile. He has also served as a confidential law clerk in the 8th Judicial District, per the same alumni profile. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Robert R. Vario
Conservative
Biography
Robert R. Vario is the lead matrimonial and family law attorney at the Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo in West Seneca, New York, per the firm's own biography of its attorneys. He has been named to Super Lawyers in family law for 2019 through 2026, per Super Lawyers. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Who is running for New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District in 2026?
7 candidates are tracked for New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Craig R. Bucki, Anne E. Joynt, Michael L. Amodeo, Robert N. Richardson, Deanne M. Tripi, Jonathan S. Hickey and Robert R. Vario. Candidate information follows official Erie County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the New York Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District election in New York?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are on the New York election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Erie County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.