Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll appointed Theodore Limpert, Esq. for Judge of Syracuse City Court due to the vacancy created by the death of long-time City Court Judge Thomas W. Higgins Jr. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. “I am deeply saddened with the passing of Judge Higgins today and wish to extend my personal sympathies to his family,” Mayor Driscoll said, “Judge Higgins served our community with honor and distinction for 28 years. His service was most noted for his breadth of judicial knowledge and his firm but fair hearing of cases.” Driscoll continued, “In appointing Ted Limpert to fill this vacancy, I believe that his 20 years of experience in handling thousands of cases in City Court, his commitment to the quality of life issues in our neighborhoods as a 30 year resident, raising four children all attending city schools and his exemplary leadership in serving our country in the Air National Guard, indicates a person of fair and balanced judicial demeanor.” The 5th Judicial District City Court’s Supervising Judge Honorable Jeffrey R. Merrill spoke with Mayor Driscoll regarding the vacancy and appointment over last weekend. Syracuse City Court is comprised of eight judges who hear cases involving civil, commercial, small claims, criminal, drug treatment, community and traffic. About Limpert:
Ted Limpert is a graduate of Bucknell University and Syracuse University College of Law, magna cum laude. He received the Order of the Coif and distinction in Professional Responsibility upon graduation. He was admitted to practice in New York in 1989 and is a partner in the Syracuse litigation firm Cote, Limpert & VanDyke, LLP. He has handled thousands of cases in Syracuse City Court, representing both private clients and the Syracuse Housing Authority. He began his legal career with Bond, Schoeneck and King as an associate in the Environmental Law Group. He was later hired by Blasland, Bouck and Lee, consulting engineers, as associate general counsel. Limpert is a member of the Onondaga County Bar Association and New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. Limpert is a Colonel in the New York Air National Guard assigned to the Adjutant General’s Staff in Albany. He was a member since May 1984 of Syracuse’s 174th Fighter Wing and was the 138th Fighter Squadron Commander from May, 2003 to September, 2008, then becoming Deputy Operation Group Commander. He has over 2200 hours in the F-16 and he logged nearly 800 hours in the A-10 Warthog. He flew his 106th combat mission over Iraq in August, 2008. He deployed to Saudi Arabia with the 174th in 1991 and flew 52 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Limpert was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for destroying a Surface to Air Missile site in Kuwait that had engaged his four ship. He returned to SW Asia in 1995 and again to Saudi Arabia in March 2001 to enforce the no fly zones over Northern and Southern Iraq. On September 11, 2001, Limpert was sitting alert in Syracuse following the attacks on the World Trade Center. He was launched in his F-16 on a night intercept sortie to identify an unknown aircraft south of Rochester. Limpert intercepted the civilian aircraft, forcing it to land, where authorities took the pilot into custody. Limpert’s most recent deployment was to Balad Air Base, Iraq as an F-16 pilot and F-16 LNO at CENTAF CAOC, Qatar Air Base, UAE (6/08 – 8/08). Limpert was the detachment Commander for the 174th Fighter Wing deployment (11/06 – 1/07) to Balad Air Base, Iraq. He was the Squadron Commander when the unit deployed in 2003 to Qatar Air Base, UAE in support of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Limpert was born in Syracuse and has lived here over 30 years, currently residing in the Strathmore neighborhood. He is married with four children and his wife, Susie is a Syracuse City School District librarian. His son Teddy is a graduate of the University of Rochester, Nik is a Senior at Bucknell University and his daughter Ellie is a Sophomore at Cornell University, all graduates of Corcoran High School. Son Tyler is a Junior at Corcoran High. Limpert was elected in 1991 as 3rd District Common Councilor and served from 1992-93. He was the Council’s Majority Leader and Chaired the Education Committee. Limpert is an avid runner, skier and scuba diver; he also is President of the Valley Lacrosse Association and has coached youth Lacrosse for the past 12 years.