New York State

Commission on Judicial Conduct

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Overview
General Information
Legal Authorities
Members & Staff
Commission Decisions
"Appealed" Decisions
Press Releases
Publications
Policy Statements
Related Groups
Job Opportunities
Filing a Complaint
Public Records

          

Introduction

Welcome to the official web site of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

This web site contains information on the Commission's authority and jurisdiction, its history and procedures, its recent decisions and other material related to the field of judicial ethics and professional discipline.

New and Noteworthy

Matter of Bonnie Simpson Burke

 

The Commission has released its decision dated December 15, 2009, to censure Bonnie Simpson Burke, a Justice of the Perth Town Court (Fulton County).  The determination is available at Burke Decision.  An accompanying press release is available at 2009 Releases.

 

Matter of Paul J. Herrmann

 

The Commission has released its decision dated December 15, 2009, to censure Paul J. Herrmann, a Justice of the Saranac Lake Village Court (Franklin County).  The determination is available at Herrmann Decision.  An accompanying press release is available at 2009 Releases.

 

Matter of James H. Ridgeway

 

The Commission has released its decision dated December 15, 2009, to censure James H. Ridgeway, a Justice of the Richland Town Court and an Acting Justice of the Pulaski Village Court (Oswego County).  The determination is available at Ridgeway Decision.  An accompanying press release is available at 2009 Releases.

 

Matter of Larry M. Himelein

 

The Commission released its decision dated December 17, 2009, to censure Larry M. Himelein, a Judge of the County, Family and Surrogate's Courts (Cattaraugus County).  The determination is available at Himelein Decision.  An accompanying press release is available at 2009 Releases.

 

Matter of James P. Gilpatric

 

The Court of Appeals released its decision dated December 15, 2009, in Matter of James P. Gilpatric.  The Court affirmed that the Commission has jurisdiction to investigate complaints of delay in the rendering of decisions and, where appropriate, to pursue formal disciplinary proceedings and impose discipline for inexcusable delay.  The Court remitted the matter to the Commission for a hearing on the specific charge of delay at issue in the Gilpatric case.  The Court's decision is available here.

 

Prior Proceedings.  The Commission released its determination dated June 5, 2009, that Kingston City Court Judge James P. Gilpatric (Ulster County) should be admonished.  The determination is available at Gilpatric Decision.  An accompanying press release is available at 2009 Releases.  Judge Gilpatric requested review by the Court of Appeals, which heard oral argument on November 17, 2009.

 

The Commission's Mandate and History

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the state agency responsible for investigating complaints of misconduct against judges of the state unified court system and, where appropriate, determining to admonish, censure or remove from office those judges found to have engaged in unethical behavior.  All determinations are subject to review in the Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court.

For a fuller description of the Commission's mandate and history, please refer to the section on Mandate & History in the General Information page of this web site.

Commission Profile

There are 11 Commission members, each serving a term of four years.  The Governor appoints four members, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals appoints three, and each of the four leaders of the State Legislature appoints one.  The members serve part-time, without compensation.  The Commission elects one of its members to serve as chair.

The Commission appoints an Administrator and Counsel, who serves full-time and hires and directs the staff.  The Commission's offices are located in New York City, Albany and Rochester.

In addition, the Commission is assisted by a lawyer who is the Clerk of the Commission.

A listing of Commission Members and Staff, and selected biographies, are located in the General Information section of this web site.

Contact Information

The best way to communicate with us is by letter, particularly if your purpose is to make a complaint against a judge.  (See the page within in this web site on Filing a Complaint.)  You may also contact us by fax or e-mail, as indicated below; but please note that, by law, all complaints must be in writing and signed.  Communications regarding complaints should be sent in writing to one of the postal addresses below.

Because the Commission members decide whether to investigate a complaint, the Commission staff is not permitted to advise complainants or potential complainants whether their complaints would be investigated.

Telephone
646-386-4800  (New York City)
          518-453-4600  (Albany)
585-784-4141  (Rochester)
 
Fax
646-458-0037  (New York City)
          518-486-1850  (Albany)
585-232-7834  (Rochester)
 
Postal Addresses
61 Broadway ♦ New York, New York 10006 (Principal Office)
          Corning Tower, Suite 2301 ♦ Empire State Plaza ♦ Albany, New York 12223
400 Andrews Street ♦ Rochester, New York 14604
 

Email the Commission:

General Inquiries: scjc@scjc.state.ny.us

Comments Regarding Pending Rules Changes: rulemaking@scjc.state.ny.us

For information on public records, go to Public Records on this website.

 

Useful Links:

 

New York State Government Web Site: www.state.ny.us

 

New York State Court System Web Site:  www.nycourts.gov/home.htm or www.courts.state.ny.us

 

Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics:  www.nycourts.gov/search/ethics_opinions.asp

 

Judicial Campaign Ethics Center:  http://www.nycourts.gov/ip/jcec/

 

New York State Commission on Public Integrity:  http://www.nyintegrity.org

 

Court System's Ethics Commission:  http://www.nycourts.gov/ip/ethics/index.shtml

 

New York State Judicial Institute:  http://www.nycourts.gov/ip/judicialinstitute/index.shtml

 

Committee on Open Government: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/index.html

 

New York Codes, Rules and Regulations: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/nycrr.htm