Former resident and Carle Place teacher Merik "Rick" Aaron was nominated by New York State Governor George Pataki to fill an interim vacancy on the Nassau County Family Court. This nomination followed a finding by the governor's non-partisan judicial screening committee that Aaron was highly qualified for appointment to the Family Court bench. On June 20, Aaron's nomination was confirmed by the New York State Senate and, on June 23, Administrative Judge Anthony Marano administered the oath of office. Aaron is presently sitting as a Family Court Judge and plans to run for election in November.

Born in 1947, Aaron moved to Carle Place with his family at the age of 3 and lived there until 1969. He attended Carle Place Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade where he was a member of track and wrestling teams, co-editor of the school newspaper and a member of the varsity tennis team, where he and his first-doubles partner, Bob Weingarten, set county records earning him a spot on the Carle Place Athletic Department's Hall of Fame.

In 1969, Aaron began teaching biology and middle school science in the Carle Place School District in 1969 and was quickly promoted to science department chairman. In addition, he coached the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Team and was advisor to the student government. In 1971, Aaron moved back to Carle Place and remained in the community until 1985 when he moved to Hewlett.

In 1980, Aaron left Carle Place Schools to become supervisor of the science department at Lawrence Public Schools. That same year, he was elected a trustee on the Carle Place Board of Education and severed as a trustee until he married and moved to Woodmere in 1985. In 1984, Aaron became the assistant principal and director of curriculum for the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.

Aaron attended Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, Nova Southeastern University and Touro Law School where he obtained his bachelors, masters, professional diploma, doctoral and juris doctor degrees, respectively. He is a member of both the Nassau County and New York State Bar Associations and admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, D.C. and Maine. Throughout his law career, Aaron worked as a law clerk for Liotti and Skelos and was general counsel to a computer software company. In 1994, he joined the Town of Hempstead as a deputy town attorney and was later promoted to principal deputy town attorney.

Aaron is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Westbury-Carle Place and a life member of the Kiwanis Club of Five Towns. He was also very active with the Woodmere Merchants Association and Five Towns Community Council.

Judge Aaron currently resides in Hewlett with his wife, Karen, and their two daughters, Stacey and Lauren.