Commission Warns N.Y. Judges: Don't Let Pay Dispute Affect Work

The disciplinary agency that investigates the judiciary for misconduct has warned judges to not let their complaints about pay interfere with their work.

In a report issued this week, the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct responded to reports that some judges are recusing themselves from cases handled by law firms that employ legislators. The recusals are intended to show the judiciary's dissatisfaction with the Legislature, which has not raised judicial pay in the last nine years.

The commission stated that it would be improper for judges to recuse themselves from cases as part of an effort to get higher pay. In veiled language within the report, the commission threatened to investigate judges who did so.

The commission's administrator, Robert Tembeckjian, declined to state whether the commission was investigating any judges over the reported recusals.

The judiciary has sued the other two branches of government over the pay issue. Basic pay for state judges is $136,700.

Overall, the commission received more complaints last year alleging misconduct by judges than ever before, the report said. Of the 1,711 new complaints, the vast majority were dismissed.