County will move pistol permit office from County Court to Clerk’s Office
ALBION – For more than 30 years, the pistol permit office has been maintained through the county judge’s chambers, even though it is a function of the County Clerk’s Office.
But with James Punch retiring as the county judge on July 29, the county is shifting the function to the Clerk’s Office, which is led by County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard.
The Legislature on Wednesday also authorized the creation of a full-time pistol permit clerk position in the Clerk’s Office.
The shift of the function to the Clerk’s Office will be effective when Punch retires on July 29. He has served as County Court judge for nearly 27 years.
The 8th Judicial District is working on a plan to have coverage in Orleans County for the different courts led by Punch: Criminal Court, Family Court, Surrogate’s Court and State Supreme Court.
Punch is retiring after 27 years on the bench. Before he was elected judge, he was the county’s district attorney for five years.
His successor will be on the ballot in November, and will assume the office on Jan. 1.
