NYS Judicial Conduct Commission releases annual report

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released its 2023 Annual Report, covering activities throughout the calendar year 2022.

Among its latest activities:

• The Commission also rendered 25 public decisions, the most in a single year since 2009.
• Thirteen judges were publicly disciplined: three judges were removed from office, seven were censured and three were admonished.
• Twelve judges resigned and publicly agreed never to return to judicial office.
• Six other judges resigned while complaints were pending, where it had not been determined permanent departure from office was warranted or appropriate.
• Twenty-seven judges were issued confidential cautionary letters.
• One hundred and eighty-seven matters were pending at year’s end.

The Commission is the disciplinary agency constitutionally designated to review complaints of judicial misconduct in New York State. The Commission's objective is to enforce the obligation of judges to observe high standards of conduct while safeguarding their right to decide cases independently.

The Report is available at here. An accompanying press release is available here.

Counties’, District Attorney’s, associations call on New York State to cure unfunded salary mandate

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York (DAASNY) have sent a joint letter to state leaders asking them to enact a chapter amendment to the State Budget or separate legislation that will provide state reimbursement to counties for the mandated DA salary increase.

Recently, the NYS Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation voted to recommend an increase in state judge’s salaries in 2016 and 2018. Without objection by the State, the recommendations became law on April 1, 2016.

Of concern to county government is the state law that links District Attorney salaries to judicial salaries. Historically, when the State has adjusted the judicial salaries, it has reimbursed counties for the increase in DA salaries through the State Budget. Unfortunately, the recently enacted state budget does not cover the recent increases.

The letter notes:

DAs are entitled to the fair and just compensation pursuant to law for fulfilling the state constitutional and statutory duties related to the enforcement of the State Penal Law. However, any state mandated increase to a local government official’s salary, as a matter of equity and fairness, must be met by the State… While the $1.6 million may seem miniscule in the face of a $150 billion spending plan, it amounts to a significant portion of a county’s allowable tax growth under the state-imposed property tax cap.

It has been reported that the mandate will hit smaller counties especially hard.

For more on this unfunded mandate, click here.

NYS Judicial Conduct Commission releases annual report

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released its 2016 Annual Report, covering activities throughout the calendar year 2015.

The Commission is the disciplinary agency constitutionally designated to review complaints of judicial misconduct in New York State. The Commission's objective is to enforce the obligation of judges to observe high standards of conduct while safeguarding their right to decide cases independently.

The Report is available at here. An accompanying press release is available here.