Judges

JUDGE SCOTT B. UGELL, TOWN JUSTICE

Judge Scott B. Ugell is Clarkstown, first elected in 1991 when he was the youngest elected judge in modern Clarkstown Justice Court history.  He is currently the Judge presiding over a special Domestic Violence Court and serves along with Family Court Judges and other local Judges and staff members.  This special county committee on Domestic Violence studies ways to improve the courts for those involved in domestic violence matters.

Judge Ugell graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1982, and Hofstra University’s School of Law in 1985.

Judge Ugell is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, the Southern and Eastern District of the United States District Court in New York and the United States Supreme Court.

After graduating from Hofstra University Law School, Judge Ugell was a Deputy Town Attorney in the Town of Hempstead, the most densely populated Township in the State of New York.  Thereafter, Judge Ugell was a Court Arbitrator in New York City Civil Courts and later became Assistant General Counsel to Pyramid Companies, the Syracuse, New York based shopping mall developer and management company.

Judge Ugell currently practices law in New City, New York where he focuses on Family and Matrimonial Law, Real Estate Development, Bankruptcy law, debtor and creditor rights and general and construction litigation.

Judge Ugell is involved in many charitable and social organizations.  He is Chairman of the Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland, A Board Member of the Jewish Federation of Rockland, a former Board Member of the JCC-Y, a member of the New City Chamber of Commerce and member of the New City Jewish Center, and supporter of United Hospice of Rockland, Good Counsel and many other worthy charitable organizations.  He is a member of the New York State Bar, the Rockland county Bar Association where is co-chair of the Bankruptcy Committee, and the Rockland County Magistrates Association where he was a past president.

Judge Ugell lives in Bardonia, New York with his two teenage daughters.

JUDGE CRAIG E. JOHNS, TOWN JUSTICE
Judge Johns and his wife Lana live in Nanuet, New York, where they are raising their three (3) children. He attended Nanuet High School, University of Connecticut (B.S Degree), New York Law School (J.D.Degree), and has taught at Rockland Community College and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

In 1980 Judge Johns was admitted to practice Law in the State of New York and was subsequently admitted to practice law in Virginia and the United States Supreme Court. His background is primarily litigation, and he has served as an Assistant District Attorney for the County of Rockland. Having been a corporate litigator in Washington, D.C., and the litigation partner of a New York City firm, Judge Johns now maintains his private practice in Nanuet, New York, and is serving his third term as Clarkstown Town Justice.

Professional and Community Organizations that he is presently involved in are: NYS Bar Association, NYS Magistrates Association, Rockland County Bar Association, Rockland County Magistrates Association, D.B.P.O.E (Elks), Honary member of the Rockland County Shields, Sons of Italy as well as serving as Rockland County's first Drug Court Judge.

Judge Johns enjoys golf, and participating in family events with his wife and three sons during his spare time.

JUDGE HOWARD GERBER, TOWN JUSTICE

Judge Gerber was re-elected to a four year term as Town Justice, commencing January 1, 2012, having been first elected to a term, commencing January 1, 2008, following his appointment by a unanimous bipartisan vote of the Town Board of Clarkstown in December 2006, to fill a vacancy. He grew up in Valley Cottage and graduated from Nyack High School (1975), The State University of New York at Geneseo (BA 1979), Pace University School of Law (JD 1982), and was admitted to practice law in New York State in 1983, and the United States District Courts – Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in 1984.

Judge Gerber served as Assistant District Attorney in Rockland County (1983-1985) and Westchester County (1985 -1994). He served as a Deputy Town Attorney in Clarkstown (2004-2006), as an Arbitrator in White Plains City Court (1994-1999), and as a Police Academy Lecturer.

Judge Gerber is an Active Life Member of the Valley Cottage Volunteer Fire Department, where he has been a member since 1979. He is currently serving as Chief of the Department, having previously held the ranks of Safety Officer, Lieutenant, Captain, Second Assistant Chief and First Assistant Chief.

Judge Gerber is a member of the New York State Magistrates Association, Rockland County Magistrates Association, Rockland County Bar Association, and Westchester County Bar Association. He belongs to the Valley Cottage Civic Association, Nanuet Civic Association, Temple Beth Torah, New City Chamber of Commerce, and PTA.

Judge Gerber lives with his wife Ilene and two daughters in Valley Cottage. He maintains a private practice of law, with offices in Nanuet and Westchester.

JUDGE ROLF M. THORSEN, TOWN JUSTICE
Growing up in Clarkstown, Judge Rolf M. Thorsen attended Congers Elementary School, Lakewood Elementary School, Clarkstown Junior High School and graduated from Clarkstown High School North. In 1983, Judge Thorsen graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Following that, he attended law school at the Faculty of Law and Jurisprudence at SUNY Buffalo, where he received a variety of honors before earning a Juris Doctorate degree in 1986.  

After law school, Judge Thorsen began a private law practice in New City, serving the citizens of Clarkstown and Rockland County. As an attorney concentrating in the areas of family law, personal injury and real estate, Judge Thorsen has successfully tried or argued cases at every level of courts in the New York State court system.

In addition to his private practice, since 1987, Judge Thorsen has also served as the confidential law secretary to Rockland County’s Senior Family Court Judge, the Hon. William P. Warren.

Judge Thorsen has always been an active member of the community, having volunteered to serve on over a dozen various community organizations, including Meals on Wheels, the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the PTA, the Rockland Civic Association and the New City Rotary Club.

Today, Judge Thorsen resides in New City with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.