Warwick Town Justice Republican Candidate: Karen Amundson

Years as assistant district attorney, representing the county in family court and private practice preceded Amundson's Republican candidacy for Warwick town justice.

Karen Amundson, now running as Republican candidate for Town of Warwick justice, says she first became interested in law when she was in middle school in Rockland County.

“I was interested in puzzles and crime and the complexities of life the law involved,” she said.

After majoring in pre-law and political science at SUNY Binghamton, getting a law degree at Pace University, and moving to Warwick, Amundson practiced law in several different realms. One of her first jobs was as Orange County assistant district attorney.

“It was an honor to have that responsibility of representing the county in proving the prosecutor’s case beyond a reasonable doubt,” she said.

However, after seven years, she accepted a job offer to be a public defender with Orange County Legal Aid Society.

“It a different kind of work and environment,” said Amundson. Rather than working with police officers, she was defending anyone in jail who couldn’t make bail, people who sometimes had mental health issues, who “had a bad start that resulted in making bad decisions,” she said.

Doing criminal defense particularly appealed to her.

“You’re representing someone with their liberty at stake,” she said. “Defense is less rigid than prosecution. You’re just poking holes in a case, versus proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

After seven years with the Legal Aid Society, Amundson shifted to private practice for three years, practicing criminal, family and real estate law. Then she went on to the job she now has, as an assistant county attorney, working for the Orange County Attorney's Office.  She is assigned to the Family Court Unit representing Department of Social Services and has handled cases involving juvenile delinquent prosecution; abuse and neglect; child support and paternity cases.

Asked why the town justice position appeals to her, Amundson said, “ This is the first time the seat has been vacated in 20 years, and I know I can be fair and impartial. It’s a natural progression.”

She noted that she has worked with Warwick police and the Orange County sheriff previously, and she had represented people in court.

“People coming to court are nervous,” she said.

As for changes she would make to the court, Amundson said she would improve time management.

“I’d stagger the calendar, so not everyone comes in at once. Those with attorneys would be heard first. Others would be scheduled for later,” she said. “And I’d make timely decisions. ”

“I have a vested interested in keeping the court as it is, enforcing the law when the police department makes an arrest,” said Amundson. However, for petty offenses, she said, “Hitting people in their wallet isn’t always the way to go,” particularly for youth, whose parents often pay fines. In such cases, she would consider community service as an alternative sentence.

"I'm open to helping kids with traffic tickets by considering programs like Alive at 25 for first offenders. Writing an essay also seems to be educational. But with more tickets, a harsh sentence may be more appropriate,” Amundson said.

For offenses rooted in mental health issues, appropriate treatment can be required. If the offender doesn’t get in trouble in the next six months, the case can be dismissed, she said. For a first speeding ticket, the 25 and Alive program, “a punishment that helps people understand what they did,” could be required.

“It makes the community a better place,” she said, but noted that multiple tickets within a year can result in license suspension.

“With violence, jail is on the table. But if probation is the sentence, one of the conditions may be mental health counseling. They have to follow through on conditional discharge components like mental health. I’m willing to work with people and let the probation officer work with them. You get a sense for what people are willing to do, their remorse and their character. I will enforce the law given the evidence and recommendations from both parties.

Michael Kelly contributed reporting to this story.

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