Onondaga Judge Named Guardianship Co-Chair

by Lucas Day

Mary Keib Smith has been appointed as the upstate judicial co-chair of New York’s Guardianship Advisory Committee.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas announced the appointment this week. The committee advises New York’s Unified Court System on guardianship matters and works to improve guardianship practices statewide.

Keib Smith will serve alongside downstate judicial co-chair Charles Troia. She succeeds David Guy, who is retiring later this year.

Keib Smith has served as Onondaga County Surrogate since 2018. Since being designated an acting Supreme Court justice in 2021, she has overseen Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 guardianship cases in Onondaga County.

Before joining the bench, Keib Smith practiced law in Syracuse, focusing on estate planning, estate administration, elder care, and guardianships.

State court officials praised Keib Smith’s experience handling complex guardianship cases and said her leadership will help support ongoing efforts to improve New York’s guardianship system.

In a statement, Keib Smith said she looks forward to working with committee members and court leadership to continue reforms and help protect vulnerable New Yorkers who are unable to advocate for themselves. 

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Onondaga Judge Named Guardianship Co-Chair