About Judge Jeffrey C. Martin
JULY 2021
Hon. Jeffrey C. Martin currently serves as one of four family court judges in Dutchess county, a position which he has held since 2019. Prior to that time, he was engaged in private practice for 33 years, concentrating primarily in matrimonial and family court cases.
Judge Martin also served as Justice for the Town of Red Hook for 13 years, Village attorney for the Village of Red Hook for 15 years, and a hearing officer for many years for various school districts who were involved in student disciplinary proceedings.
“From my perspective, the CASA volunteers are heroes. In many cases, they are thrust into incredibly difficult family situations and they are asked to provide guidance to families and people whose lives they probably never could have previously imagined.
The CASA volunteers perform their work with grace as they look to restore the dignity which each family, and each child, not only deserves, but seeks within the very chaotic and confusing confines of their world.
The fabric of life contains many colors. I’d like to think that the smallest, yet most beautiful, pieces of fabric are those woven by the CASA volunteers. When the tapestry is complete, it is an extraordinary reminder that all of us, working together, can, in fact, bring beauty, opportunity, and hope into the lives of families and children. ”
Judge Martin, a 10th generation resident of Red Hook, N.Y., graduated from the Red Hook Schools (1978); Siena College (1982); and Vermont Law School (1985). While in college, Judge Martin played on Siena’s Division 1 baseball team for four years, and for many years he has coached various baseball teams in the local leagues. He still plays baseball in the Albany men’s wooden bat baseball league. Judge Martin has also served for many years as a board member on The Center For Performing Arts in Rhinebeck. Judge Martin is a member of the NY State Bar Association, the NY State Magistrate’s Association, the Dutchess County Bar Association, and the Dutchess County Magistrate’s Association (Past President).
Of CASA, Judge Martin states, “Our job as family court judges encompasses a variety of functions. Ironically, the best work can be accomplished with the least amount of “judging.“ Instead, we must learn to perceive, hear, listen, understand, and respond to the issues presented in our courts.
Within the context of the limited amount of time which can be offered to cases which are placed on very full calendars, we (judges, attorneys, court staff, and especially the litigants) must rely on each other to analyze truthful, detailed, and succinct information.
The details of each case can be complex, as most cases usually contain small fabrics of information which, taken together, weave a delicate family portrait.
The CASA program is designed, in part, to provide the participants, especially the children, with the time, energy, and opportunity to ensure that every piece of fabric of the case, no matter how large or small, is included in the information which is presented to the court.
From my perspective, the CASA volunteers are heroes. In many cases, they are thrust into incredibly difficult family situations and they are asked to provide guidance to families and people whose lives they probably never could have previously imagined.
These extraordinary volunteers dive headfirst into deep waters of uncertainty, confusion, instability, and mistrust. They need to navigate these treacherous waters, assist in finding life-saving solutions, and try to implement the solutions in a world which has usually been very unfair to the children, parents, and others.
The CASA volunteers perform their work with grace as they look to restore the dignity which each family, and each child, not only deserves, but seeks within the very chaotic and confusing confines of their world.
Because of their efforts, miracles happen. These miracles can be small or large, profound or simple, and everything in between. But these miracles happen, perhaps not with every case, but when they happen the CASA volunteers are reminded of the profound positive impact they provided to the family and to the children.
The volunteers’ path is humbling and it is not filled with instant glory or public recognition. Often times, the volunteers stay in the shadows in order to allow the light to shine brighter elsewhere. But, at the end of the day, and at the end of the case, the volunteers should know, and must know, that their efforts perhaps saved a life. Literally.
The fabric of life contains many colors. I’d like to think that the smallest, yet most beautiful, pieces of fabric are those woven by the CASA volunteers. When the tapestry is complete, it is an extraordinary reminder that all of us, working together, can, in fact, bring beauty, opportunity, and hope into the lives of families and children.
There can be no greater joy in helping families find the tools to succeed, and there can be no greater heroes than the volunteers of CASA who help to make dreams become a reality.”
Judge Martin is married to Michelle, a financial advisor, and he enjoys his happiest moments in the company of his family and his five children.