Keep Judge Oscar Quintero for Schenectady

Judge Oscar Quintero currently sits as City Court Judge in Schenectady City Court, and he is seeking to continue in that role. From a young age, Judge Quintero knew he wanted to enter public service, and he decided to pursue this goal by obtaining a law degree.

Judge Quintero’s motivation was shaped by his parents’ encounters with crime and the legal system. Judge Quintero was born in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1988. When he was 4 years old, his father was murdered, and to this day, no one has been held accountable for that act. His family migrated to the United States in 1999 and, soon after, Judge Quintero’s mother committed a crime. She served 4 years in prison, during which time she engaged in rehabilitative services. Upon her release, she was deported to Colombia, and she used her experiences to help build a community of people. After a long battle with cancer, Judge Quintero’s mother passed away in 2022. In her final years, the community she helped build rallied around her and supported her in her time of need.

“Although I did not know it at the time, these experiences shaped my judicial philosophy. I believe in the importance of accountability, because an organized society cannot function without laws. And I believe in the value of rehabilitation, because giving people the grace to grow past mistakes benefits us all.”

While attending college, Judge Quintero worked at McDonald’s, where he earned valuable operational experience.“I learned the importance of understanding each and every aspect of running the restaurant. Understanding the roles of my colleagues and employees allowed me to better support them, and to better perform my own duties.”

Judge Quintero began his legal career as an Appellate Court Attorney at the Law Research Department for Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department in 2016. In 2018, he gained trial experience by serving as a court attorney for Judge Mark W. Blanchfield at Schenectady County Family Court. In conjunction with Family Court personnel, Judge Quintero applied his operational skills to implement processes that significantly decreased the wait times before litigants could access trial dates. Then, in 2022, he returned to the Appellate Division as the court attorney for Justice Christine M. Clark. Through these experiences, Judge Quintero learned to address complex legal issues with sound legal rationale. He also attained a deeper appreciation for the rippling effects of judicial decisions.

Additionally, Judge Quintero previously served on the Committee on Character and Fitness for the 4th Judicial Department, and he is currently a Member of the Equal Justice in the Courts Initiative for the 4th Judicial District.

He received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida, and graduated with his juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from St. Thomas University School of Law. Judge Quintero and his husband reside in the City of Schenectady with their dog, Wolfrose.