Suffolk GOP picks Stephen Kiely for state Supreme Court race

Suffolk Republicans have named Stephen Kiely of Southold to run for state Supreme Court justice to replace Riverhead lawyer Lane Bubka, who declined the nomination last week.

Kiely, 43, of Mattituck has been an assistant town attorney in Brookhaven, Southampton and Southold. He has yet to be screened by the Suffolk County Bar Association. Jane LaCova, the bar’s executive director, said the screening should take place in a few weeks. Both major parties have agreed not to run candidates who fail to receive a qualified rating from the bar association.

Bubka, who dropped out of the race last week, said he “determined it wasn’t the right time to run” after he was originally recruited.

Bubka also acknowledged after accepting the nomination he learned that the New York State Constitution requires lawyers to have 10 years experience before they can legally qualify to run for state Supreme Court justice.

Bubka, 35, who practices mainly criminal law and trusts and estates, said he was admitted to the bar in 2010 and falls two years short of the requirement.