Justice Steven Barnwell has spent “almost every single solitary day” in a courtroom for the past 38 years. Now, he is running for the village justice seat in Mineola.
He began his career as a New York State court officer in 1983. In 1991 he became an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, handling prosecutions for insurance fraud, corruption and white-collar crime.
Barnwell said that his approach to fairness and justice has not changed throughout his career in the courtroom.
“As an attorney, I’ve always tried to be one who was fair to the other side,” Barnwell said. “The most important thing. . .is to listen to the arguments [no matter what your job title is].”
Barnwell stressed that he strives to take everyone’s words into consideration when hearing a case. He said that most of the people who come before him are average citizens who have taken time out of their day to appear in court, and that they often make good points that deserve to be taken seriously.
Barnwell told Blank Slate Media that sees the role of a judge as “administer[ing] justice by way of compassion when compassion is called for, and sternness when sternness is called for.”
Barnwell is running against Nassau County Court Judge Scott Fairgrieve in an election taking place March 18. The election comes in the wake of the death of Village Justice John O’Shea in November.
Barnwell served as associate justice alongside O’Shea beginning in 2017. Following O’Shea’s death, he was appointed acting village justice.
Barnwell had worked with O’Shea prior to his tenure as an associate justice. He first met O’Shea at the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency where, Barnwell says, O’Shea was “one of the most well-respected judges.”
When O’Shea saw an opening in the Mineola Justice Court, he asked Barnwell to step in.
Barnwell reflected that he has greatly enjoyed his three years as associate village justice and acting village justice.
“It’s a pleasure for me to serve the community,” he said.
Barnwell said his dedication to the community stems from his connection to Mineola as a resident, as well as his enthusiasm for local government members’ “vision for the town.” He sees his role in that vision as “mak[ing] sure that… .ourt keeps up with what happens here in the village,” he said.
“I’ve been in a courtroom almost every day of my life since 1982,” Barnwell said. He added that he means this literally—he is often in the courtroom on a Friday or Saturday night, or standing by an officer’s side at a police hearing before the sun is up.
The election for village justice will be held on March 18 from 6 am to 9 pm at the Village Hall Community Center at 155 Washington Ave.
