It was a chilly afternoon last Thursday when around 40 people gathered in front of the Rosendale-Marbletown joint town hall in Cottekill to protest what many say is a work slowdown amongst Ulster County public defenders. Of late, Rosendale Police Chief and head of the county police chiefs’ association Scott Schaffrick said both town justices and lawyers haven’t been returning calls for after-hours arraignments, resulting in the release of domestic violence suspects without orders of protection for their victims.

The group included family and friends of a local victim of domestic violence, 20-year-old Emeliah Eck. Eck’s ex-boyfriend Jordan Mahany was charged twice with criminal obstruction of breathing in the towns of Rosendale and Wawarsing respectively, as well as first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a felony, and third-degree assault. But a no-show judge meant that Mahany couldn’t be arraigned and Eck could not receive an order of protection against him.

The reason for the May 9 gathering was because Mahany was finally being arraigned almost two weeks after his initial arrest on April 27. As Mahany arrived and walked into the courthouse, friends and family of Eck stood holding signs that read “Lock Him Up” and “Justice for Emeliah.” One participant exclaimed, “Where were you when she needed you?”

The protest’s palpable energy was evident in demonstrators’ fight for justice for victims of domestic violence, as police officers stood inside the courthouse watching the mass of people standing in the parking lot. The professionally made signs they carried were courtesy of New Paltz-based company Hudson Valley Impressions. It’s owned by Mary and Bob Holsapple, who have been friends with the Eck family for years.

After Mahany’s court appearance, Eck was granted an order of protection. Mahany posted bail and was released two hours later.

Shawangunk Journal had the chance to speak with Anna Augustine, the aunt of the victim, who was at the protest. She said she was “very disappointed” that there was no judge to arraign Mahany after he was arrested.

“This shouldn’t happen to people who are abused. We are trying to get justice for her and justice for other people going through this,” Augustine said, adding that her niece was “devastated, she was hurting, and we were hurting for her.”

“I too was abused so I know the pain, it brought back a lot of horrible things that happened to me, and to know that it’s happening to her broke my heart,” Augustine said. “I was hoping that the system was better than 30 years ago.”

This Friday, Mahany will be in court again, this time in Wawarsing in connection with the criminal obstruction of breathing charge lodged there. Court begins at 8:30 a.m.