Supreme Court Justice Elma Bellini dies at 63

From the bench, state Supreme Court Justice Elma Bellini showed the same traits that she'd displayed as a successful trial attorney in the Public Defender's Office: tenacity mixed with kindness, determination blended with decency.

"She was as a judge exactly what she was as a public defender — competent and she knew what the tenets of her job were," said local lawyer Jeffrey Wicks, a friend of Bellini's who also worked with her in the Public Defender's Office. "She always had her head on straight and she knew exactly what to do. 

"She was kind to everybody."

Justice Bellini died Sunday from cancer at the age of 63.

"We have lost a warm and wonderful friend and our community has lost a fierce, extraordinarily competent defender of justice."  Administrative Judge Craig Doran said in a statement.

Justice Bellini was elected to her current position in the 7th Judicial District in 2009. She had been an acting Supreme Court justice, appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, from 2004 to 2008.

Her term was to end in 2022.

Local lawyer James Hinman recalled how Justice Bellini crafted a rare opinion in matrimonial court in which estranged parents lived under the same roof. She came up with a list of parenting responsibilities and days of custody, and assigned them to each parent.

"She showed that she understood more than just what the legalities of a situation are," Hinman said. "She understood that the people matter."

Justice Bellini began her tenure on the bench in 2000, when then-Gov. George Pataki appointed her as a Monroe County Court judge. She was elected to that position in 2001, serving until 2008.

She is best known for having challenged popular incumbent Monroe County District Attorney Howard Relin as a Republican in 1999, when Justice Bellini was a law clerk to state Supreme Court Justice L. Paul Kehoe. Relin won with 63 percent of the votes.

Justice Bellini also served 10 years in the Public Defender's Office. She was a graduate of Syracuse University Law School, the State University College at Brockport and Monroe Community College. She was active in Big Brothers, Big Sisters; the Boy Scouts of America Explorers program; Camp Good Days and Special Times; and Families with Children From China.

Bellini had two stepsons through her marriage to James Stevenson. She and Stevenson adopted two daughters from China.

Justice Bellini's friend Jill Paperno, now the top assistant in the Public Defender's Office, said family was always "a priority" for Justice Bellini.

"Elma hosted cookie days, where we would bake Christmas cookies all day, though back then we ended the day with latkes — a recognition of my holiday," Paperno said.  "She held big family events. ... We lost touch over the years as we raised our kids; we reconnected in recent years as her father’s and my mother’s health failed.  She would offer to join me during my visits to the nursing home."

In Justice Bellini’s honor, flags flew at half-staff at all Monroe County facilities on Monday.

"Our community lost an outstanding jurist," Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said in a statement. "From the early days of her career as an assistant public defender to her stellar tenure as a county court judge and then a Supreme Court justice, Elma Bellini was deeply committed to justice and public service.  Justice Bellini's dedication to the law was second only to her commitment to her family."

MCHAO@Gannett.com