11/02/2025
Keep Mayor Stebbins' THOUGHTFUL appointment as your justice in the Village.
"When searching for a replacement for Judge Huling, I repeatedly was given the advice by attorneys and justices that I needed to fill the vacancy with an individual with a strong background in criminal law. David Smallwood fit that bill and has continued to excel as our village judge. Keep Judge Smallwood in office for the good of our community." - Mayor Bruce Stebbins.
* INDEPENDENT * IMPARTIAL * EXPERIENCED Judge David Smallwood is a legal historian by education receiving a JD from Syracuse University’s College of Law and a Master’s degree from the prestigious Maxwell School of Citizenship at SU. David attended high school in Dutchess County, New York then a double major at Emory and Henry College in Virginia before moving to Baldwinsville in 2013 to attend law school. David joined Baldwinsville First United Methodist Church upon moving to the area and met Judge Elijah Huling who immediately became an amazing mentor and friend to the young law student.
After law school David was fortunate to briefly serve as Judge Huling’s law clerk assisting him with research in writing opinions on matters handled by the village court. After this experience, David opened a general legal practice right in the center of the village handling criminal defense, small claims, real estate, and estate matters like wills and trusts. These areas of practice have varied over the years with criminal defense taking over as the primary focus of the practice. David has handled thousands of criminal cases in 36 of New York’s 62 counties in addition to Federal Court. In 2023 he was asked to join the newly formed Office of the Public Defender in Oswego, New York where he is one of two supervising attorneys and handles cases in City, County, and Supreme Court.
Judge Smallwood was appointed by Mayor Stebbins to fill the vacancy left by the late Judge Huling which was bittersweet for him, yet a great honor to follow in the footsteps of his mentor. Since that time, his focus has been on the true administration of justice, the importance of criminal procedure, and the vital role played by local courts like ours despite movements in Albany to abolish them.
