President Donald Trump last week nominated Cobleskill native Ryan McAllister to be US District Court Judge for the Northern District of New York.
Mr. McAllister, 43, has a long career in the law and government, both locally and in the state.
His appointment is pending confirmation by the US Senate.
If approved, Mr. McAllister will take over the district judgeship because District Court Senior Judge Gary Sharpe took senior status and semi-retirement.
Mr. McAllister had a private law practice in Cobleskill from 2013 to 2016, handling a variety of duties.
Local attorneys praised his nomination.
“The Schoharie County Bar Association is very proud and excited to have someone from Schoharie County receiving such a prestigious nomination,” said county District Attorney Susan Mallery.
Ms. Mallery served on the team that interviewed Mr. McAllister before the nomination.
“He’s a very conservative, hard-working individual,” Ms. Mallery said. “He’ll make a very good judge for the federal judiciary.”
Mike West, attorney for Schoharie County, agreed with Ms. Mallery and was also interviewed about Mr. McAllister during the vetting process.
“He’ll make a great judge,” Mr. West said. “He’s got the perfect temperament, and he’s brilliant.
“It’s been a long time coming for him to find the right place, and this is it. It’s the right fit.”
After his Cobleskill practice, Mr. McAllister was a district director for Congressman John Faso. He was also senior counsel for the New York State Senate and served as a counsel for former Governor George Pataki.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America and earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2002.
He is currently an attorney with the Boies Schiller Flexner law firm in Albany.
Mr. McAllister and his wife, Debra, have four children and live in Cobleskill.