Emotional moments followed Thomas Leone’s final days on the bench, according to The Citizen, as former defendants and families thanked the longtime Cayuga County judge for changing their lives.
Leone retired from Cayuga County Court in April after nearly two decades as judge. He said tough family court cases often stayed with him at night, but hearing from people years later reminded him his decisions mattered. Leone defeated longtime District Attorney James Vargason in 2006 and later won reelection unopposed.
The 69-year-old said recent family losses and two new grandchildren helped shape his retirement decision. Looking back, Leone said he kept the promise he made during his first campaign: to treat people fairly and listen.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.