Syracuse, N.Y. — Eight people are running for four open judge seats for the top trial court in Central and Northern New York.

Four Republican Party and four Democratic Party candidates are vying to become State Supreme Court Justices for the state’s 5th Judicial District, which spans Onondaga, Oswego, Oneida, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The state Supreme Court is unique as it hears a wide variety of cases. The justices can hear any case that might have been taken to trial: most are civil cases, some are criminal cases.

Chief Administrative Judge Deborah H. Karalunas will decide which county the justices will serve in.

The term is 14 years. The annual salary in 2024 was $232,600. Judges older than 70 must be assessed for mental fitness with a hard retirement cap at 76 year

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