504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Civil Court Manhattan Rita Mella's response)

Candidate Name: Rita Mella

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

Campaign Manager: Tom Tedeschi

Phone: 718-347-7093

Fax: 212-995-9492

Campaign Name: Friends of Rita Mella

Campaign Address: c/o L. Rosenthal, 2500 Johnson Avenue (4J), Bronx N.Y. 10463

Phone: 646-522-0148

Fax: 212-995-9492

Email: rimella@aol.com

Key endorsements to date:

Political leaders:

Assemblymember Herman "Denny" Farrel
Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat
Senator Eric Schnieiderman
Councilmember Miguel Martines
Councilmember Robert Jackson
Councilmember Rosie Mendez
District Leader Maria Luna
District Leader Henry N. Lehmann
District Leader Maria Morilla
District Leader Mayra Linares-Diaz
District Leader Caroline Rowan
District Leader Ricardo Urena
State Committeewoman Joan Serrano Laufer
State Committeewoman Lynn Thomas

Local community leaders:

Dr. Rafael Lantigua
Rosita Romero
Mireya Cruz

How will you incorporate people with disabilities into your campaign? Are you willing to hire and use flex-time and job-sharing if necessary?

My campaign will not be hiring anybody. It is a very small campaign. Anyone participating in the campaign will do so on a volunteer basis. Volunteers with all different degrees of abilities are welcome.
If you are in private practice, is your office accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to ensure access?

I am not in private practice.
Is the courthouse in which you work accessible to people with all kinds of disabilities? If not, what have you done to ensure access?

Yes, it is accessible. But in addition:
1. In the courtroom used by the judge for whom I work, a number of chairs were removed in order to create space for wheelchair users during the calendar.
2. In November, we will be conducting a hearing by video conferencing.
3. Cases involving idividuals who have special needs are called first, out of order, so that they do not have to wait a long time in the courtroom.
4. Telephone conferences are arranged for people who cannot travel to the courthouse.
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?

Yes. I work in the Surrogate's Court and a significiant number of litigants with disabilities appear in that court in connection with guardianship proceedings. In particular, a number of wheelchair users appear in guardianship. Accomodations for these litigants include:
1. calling prior to their appearance, if we are informed of their special needs, to ask how we could accommodate their needs when they are present in court.
2. giving priority to their cases during the calendar call.
3. as I mentioned above, removing chairs from the courtroom to create more space for wheelchair users.
Do you believe that a deaf or a blind person can serve as a juror? Why or why not?

Absolutely yes. The answer is "why not?" Accomodations should be made so that everyone can b a juror.
Are you willing to hire on a job share or full time basis, a qualified law clerk/secretary with a disability?

Of course.
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?

In addition to being part of the Committee, volunteering to be the contact person for court users with disabilities. Also requested training for all court employees.

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