NCJ Number
137751
Date Published
1992
Length
87 pages
Annotation
This 1992 Annual Report of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct covers the commission's activities during calendar year 1991.
Abstract
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the disciplinary agency constitutionally designated to review complaints of misconduct against judges of the New York State unified court system. The commission's objective is to enforce the obligation of judges to observe high standards of conduct while safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. An overview of complaints and investigations for 1991 indicates 1,207 new complaints were received, compared with 1,184 from the previous year. Of these, 1,010 (83.5 percent) were dismissed by the commission upon initial review, and 197 investigations were authorized and commenced. In addition, 157 investigations and proceedings on formal charges were pending from the previous year. The cases upon which actions were taken in 1991 are summarized under the categories of determinations of removal (five cases), determinations of censure (two cases), and determinations of admonition (four cases). Data are provided on dismissed formal written complaints, letters of dismissal and caution, matters closed upon resignation, and referrals to other agencies. Two cases of commission determinations reviewed by the Court of Appeals are summarized. Other matters addressed in the report are challenges to commission procedures, problem areas identified by the commission, and the commission's budget. Appended rules of judicial conduct; statistical analysis of complaints; and a statement of the commission's powers, duties, operations, and history