New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct

State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Commission overview
Jurisdiction New York
Commission executives
  • Thomas Klonick, chair
  • Robert Tembeckjian, administrator
Key documents
Website scjc.state.ny.us

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is an eleven-member panel with authority to discipline judges of the New York courts. The Commission is constitutionally established to investigate and prosecute complaints filed against New York judges.[1]

Procedure

The commission receives complaints, investigates and makes initial determinations regarding judicial conduct. The Commission may privately caution or publicly admonish, censure a judge, remove from office, or mandatorily retire a judge found guilty of misconduct. The Commission's decisions are subject to review by the New York Court of Appeals, which may confirm or reject the Commission's findings of misconduct, and reduce or increase a recommended sanction.[2][3]

The rules and regulations of the commission are compiled in Title 22, Subtitle C, Chapter V of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), whereas the rules concerning review by the Court of Appeals are compiled in Title 22, Subtitle B, Chapter I, Subchapter D of the NYCRR.

Composition

Commission members are judges, lawyers and non-lawyers appointed by the Governor, the Chief Judge, and leaders of the New York State Legislature.[4][5][6]

Commission Members Appointed By Credentials Term
Thomas A. Klonick, Chair Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman Maintains a law practice in Fairport, New York and has practiced law for 30 years; Town Justice for the Town of Perinton, New York; Monroe County Assistant Public Defender, 1980-83; member of the New York State Magistrates Association.[7][8] 2005–2017
Terry Jane Ruderman, Vice Chair Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman Judge, New York State Court of Claims, White Plains district, 2005-present; former Westchester County Assistant District Attorney and Deputy County Attorney; past President of the New York State Association of Women Judges.[7][9] 1999–2016
Rolando T. Acosta Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman Judge, New York State Supreme Court, 2002-present; Judge, New York City Civil Court, 1997-2002; former attorney with the Legal Aid Society and Deputy Commissioner with the New York City Commission on Human Rights.[7][10] 2010–2018
Joseph W. Belluck Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Founding partner of the Manhattan law firm Belluck & Fox; former counsel to New York State Attorney General in tobacco industry litigation, staff attorney for Public Citizen, and Directory of Attorney Services for Trial Lawyers Care.[7] 2008–2016
Joel Cohen Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Attorney at Manhattan law firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP since 1985; former prosecutor with the U.S. Justice Department’s Organized Crime & Racketeering Section, Eastern District of New York; Adjunct Law Professor at Fordham Law School.[7][11] 2010–2018
Jodie Corngold Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Director of Communications for the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY; Board member, Brooklyn Heights Montessori School; former director of public relations, Allied Urological Associates.[7][12] 2013–2019
Richard D. Emery Senate Minority Leader John L. Sampson Founding Partner of Manhattan law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP; Chair of the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board; former staff attorney, New York Civil Liberties Union; taught at the New York University School of Law.[7][13] 2004–2016
Paul B. Harding Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb Managing Partner of Albany, NY law firm of Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP; Serves on Board of Directors for New York State Trial Lawyers Association and Client Services Committee for American Association for Justice.[7] 2006–2017
Richard A. Stoloff Senate President Pro Tem Dean Skelos Partner in Monticello, New York law firm of Stoloff & Silver, LLP; served as Town Attorney for the Town of Mamakating for 19 years; past President of the Sullivan County Bar Association.[7] 2011–2019
David A. Weinstein. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Judge, New York State Court of Claims; New York State Assistant Attorney General, 2000-2006; Counsel to the Governor of New York, 2007-2011; Associate in the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 1997-2000.[7][14] 2012–2018

See also

References

  1. Constitution of the State of New York article VI, § 22(a); "There shall be a commission on judicial conduct. The commission on judicial conduct shall receive, initiate, investigate and hear complaints [...]" Judiciary Law article 2-A. Judiciary Law § 41(1); "A state commission on judicial conduct is hereby established. [...]" Judiciary Law § 44(1); "The commission shall receive, initiate, investigate and hear complaints [...]" 22 NYCRR § 7000.9.
  2. Judiciary Law § 44
  3. Gibson, Ellen M.; Manz, William H. (2004). Gibson's New York Legal Research Guide (PDF) (3rd ed.). Wm. S. Hein Publishing. pp. 132–134. ISBN 1-57588-728-2. LCCN 2004042477. OCLC 54455036.
  4. Judiciary Law § 41
  5. "Overview". New York State Commission on Judicial Misconduct. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. "How to Complain About Lawyers and Judges in New York City" (PDF). New York City Bar. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Commission Members". New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. "About Tom Klonick". Law Offices of Thomas A. Klonick. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  9. "Judge Profile—Terry Jane Ruderman". New York Law Journal. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  10. "Associate Justice Rolando T. Acosta". New York State Unified Court System. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  11. "Joel Cohen—Adjunct Professor of Law". Fordham University. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  12. "Brooklyn resident appointed to judicial conduct commission". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  13. "Richard D. Emery, Esq., Chair". NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  14. "Judge Profile—David Weinstein". New York Law Journal. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
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