Longtime appellate attorney and volunteer firefighter Joe Dinolfo launches campaign for NY Supreme Court seat following retirements of Justices Donofrio and Doran

Monroe County, New York – Attorney Joe Dinolfo has officially declared his candidacy for one of the open seats on the New York State Supreme Court in the Seventh Judicial District. This district encompasses a wide region including Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties. The announcement comes ahead of the upcoming elections where two seats will become vacant following the retirements of Justices Gail Donofrio and Craig Doran.

Joe Dinolfo brings to the race a robust background with over 30 years of legal experience. He has spent the last 14 years at the New York State Appellate Division, 4th Department, where he has represented cognitively disadvantaged individuals in civil litigation. Before his time at the Appellate Division, Dinolfo managed his own legal practice for nearly two decades, specializing in family, criminal, and civil law.

“I’m running for State Supreme Court to serve the people of the Seventh Judicial District with integrity, fairness, and respect,” Dinolfo stated. He emphasized his extensive experience in the courtroom and his deep-rooted service in the community, including his long-standing role as a volunteer firefighter with the Egypt Fire Department, where he has served for twenty years.

Dinolfo’s commitment to the community extends beyond his legal and volunteer work. A native of Rochester and a first-generation American, he attended SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Brockport before earning his law degree from the University of Dayton. He is married to Nathalie, and they have three daughters. The family currently resides in Fairport.

Running as a Republican and Conservative candidate, Dinolfo is focused on bringing a balanced perspective to the bench, one that he believes is shaped by his diverse legal background and commitment to public service. The general election is scheduled for November 4, 2025, with early voting available from October 25 to November 2. Residents of the district will also have the option to request absentee ballots. Joe Dinolfo’s campaign is expected to highlight his dedication to integrity and fairness in the judiciary, qualities he hopes will resonate with voters in the Seventh Judicial District.