The Bar Association of Erie County issued its ratings for New York State Supreme Court judicial candidates for the Nov. 3 general election. Possible ratings are outstanding, well qualified, qualified, and not recommended.

Its ratings of Supreme Court candidates, released Friday, are as follows:

• Hon. Christopher Burns: outstanding

• Russell Ippolito Jr.: qualified

• Hon. Henry Nowak: qualified

• Hon. John O'Donnell: well qualified

• Hon. Shirley Troutman: well qualified

Judicial candidates complete a written questionnaire and are rated on criteria including integrity, experience, professional ability, education, reputation, industry, temperament, fairness, statutory standards, attitude, punctuality and knowledge of the law.

Niagara Bar hosts ethics seminar

The Bar Association of Niagara County will offer the ethics seminar "A View From the Bench" Friday, Aug. 14, from 9-11 a.m. at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

The seminar is free for members of the bar association who renew their membership by Aug. 7; members of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York chapter, may attend at a discounted rate of $15. Materials for the event will be provided on CD.

Enrollment is limited to 70 participants. Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information, send an e-mail to barassociationofniagaracounty@hotmail.com.

Court Resource Center expands

Hon. Judge Sharon Townsend, administrative judge for the 8th Judicial District, announced the expansion of the district's Court Resource Center to Chautauqua County. The Court Resource Center in Chautauqua County is located in the Supreme and County Chief Clerk's Office, Gerace Office Building, second floor, 3 North Erie St., Mayville.

The Center employs remote videoconferencing technology to link up with court staff based in Buffalo.

The Court Resource Center provides unrepresented litigants, members of the public and attorneys with information to assist them in navigating their way through the court system. Its staff includes a court attorney and a court clerk who distribute sample forms and referral information for legal services that are available throughout Western New York. Public-access computer terminals will also be available.

Damon staffer heads UB Women's Club

Ellen Pierino, an attorney with Damon Morey LLP, was named the 2009-10 president of the University at Buffalo Women's Club.

The UB Women's Club is a service organization whose members participate in educational and charitable activities that directly support the annual Grace W. Capen Academic Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Pierino is coordinator of documents and risk management for Damon Morey. She is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators, Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York, Friends of the UB Center of the Arts, Canisius College Alumni Association, National Association of Realtors, New York State Association of Realtors, Buffalo-Niagara Association of Realtors and the Lockport Town and Country Club. She also has a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer license from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Pierino is a member of the Advisory Council to the UB Center for the Arts. She has served as a member for the Erie County Cultural Resources Advisory Board and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society board.

- Compiled by Matt Chandler