Fairgrieve runs for Mineola village justice

Emma Jones

Nassau County Court Judge Scott Fairgrieve has served the Mineola community in multiple capacities for 42 years, and he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. In his newest venture, he is running for the Mineola village justice position that residents are voting on next week.

“I feel I would make an excellent village judge,” Fairgrieve said in an interview with Blank Slate Media. “I have 20 years of experience as a full-time Nassau County judge and [have been] an acting county court judge since 2010 and … I have an excellent reputation of being fair and impartial in the courtroom.”

He is running against Steven Barnwell, the acting village justice, in the election on March 18. The election comes in the wake of the death of Village Justice John O’Shea in November.

Fairgrieve has been a judge in Nassau County District Court since 2001. He will have to vacate his position at the end of the year due to age restrictions. He will turn 70 in December.

Fairgrieve was also a practicing attorney for 24 years. He has been found well-qualified by the Nassau County Bar Association five times, he said, which is the highest rating.

He is currently an adjunct professor at Long Island University, where he teaches business law.

He said that his time as an attorney has helped him to empathize with attorneys in the courtroom. Having been an attorney himself, Fairgrieve said, he knows how hectic lawyers’ schedules are, and tries to be flexible and understanding as much as possible.

Fairgrieve emphasized his impartiality as well.

“I’ve always strived since day one to be fair and impartial,” he said. “I always listen, I always give everybody a fair shot.”

Fairgrieve said that his extensive community participation and experience as a village trustee from 1982 to 1994 make him the best candidate for the position.

“I have a very good feel for how Mineola operates from being on the board and being so involved in the community for so many years,” Fairgrieve said.

Fairgrieve is well-known in the community for inviting people of all ages to sit with him while he hears cases. He has had dozens of law students shadow him, many of whom have the opportunity to write decisions which he then signs off on, Fairgrieve said.

As village justice, he said, he would continue to bring students in and let them sit with him and learn about the court. He stressed that he believes it is very important for young people to see how the judicial system works.

His dedication to young people extends beyond the courtroom. Fairgrieve has given hundreds of talks at local high schools on the dangers of drunken driving, speeding and drug use, he said.

Fairgrieve is also an avid runner — he recently ran two marathons — and he shares this passion with the Mineola and great Long Island community. He is a co-founder of the Mineola Mustang Run, which he said has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local organizations such as the Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Historical Society. Fairgrieve serves on the boards of the New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club and the Greater Long Island Running Club as well.

When asked what the most important things are for voters to know about him, Fairgrieve emphasized his love of the community and his commitment to fairness.

“I always … double-check myself, to make sure that what I’m doing is correct. You can’t get uppity about things … things are complicated and you need to always look at things two or three times to try to make sure you’re doing the right thing,” Fairgrieve said. “I will bring that excellence to the Mineola village justice court.”

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