privately about the matter. The Commission may The Commission’s Authority also determine that the judge should be publicly admonished or censured, removed from office or, Additional Resources and Jurisdiction in a case of disability, retired. Determinations to When appropriate, the Commission refers admonish, censure, remove or retire a judge are The New York State Commission on Judicial complaints to other agencies. Please see the subject to review by the Court of Appeals, New Conduct receives and reviews written complaints following columns for referral information for State of New York of misconduct against judges of the state unified York State’s highest court. judges and others over whom the Commission court system, which includes State, County, Confidentiality lacks jurisdiction. Municipal, Town and Village Courts. Commission proceedings are, by law, Upon review of a complaint, the Commission confidential. A matter becomes public only if the NYC Housing Court Judges decides whether to investigate or dismiss it. Commission has determined that the judge should Deputy Chief Administrative Judge be admonished, censured, removed or retired, or if New York City Civil Court The types of complaints that may be investigated the judge has waived confidentiality. 111 Centre Street by the Commission include improper demeanor, New York, New York 10013 conflicts of interest, intoxication, bias, prejudice, In the course of an investigation, the judge may be favoritism, corruption, prohibited business or given a copy of the complaint and be asked political activity, serious financial and records questions about it. If the Commission directs that Support Magistrates mismanagement and other misconduct on or off the matter proceed to a hearing, both the judge and NYC (New York, Kings, Bronx, Queens and the bench. Physical or mental disability may also the complainant, as well as other witnesses, may Richmond Counties) be investigated. be required to testify. Administrative Judge The Commission is a disciplinary agency, not an The Commission is required to notify the New York City Family Court appellate court. It has no authority to reverse a complainant of the disposition of the complaint. 60 Lafayette Street New York, New York 10013 lower court ruling or decision, order a new trial, Jurisdiction raise or reduce the amount of bail or change the sentence imposed upon a defendant. The The Commission’s jurisdiction is limited to Outside of NYC Commission does not issue advisory opinions, judges. Complaints against other court Deputy Chief Administrative Judge give legal advice to complainants or represent personnel or lawyers are not investigated. Office of Court Administration litigants. Among others, the Commission does not have 4 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2001 Commission jurisdiction over the following: Albany, New York 12223 Disciplinary Action

Investigation of a complaint may entail such  New York City Housing Attorneys/District Attorneys on measures as interviewing witnesses, analyzing Court Judges Complaints against attorneys may be made to the documents and getting the judge’s response to the  Support Magistrates appropriate Attorney Disciplinary/Grievance allegations. If a complaint is investigated and the  Attorneys or District Attorneys Committee. The office you need to contact allegations are not substantiated, the Commission  Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) depends upon the location of your lawyer’s Judicial Conduct will dismiss the complaint. If the allegations  Federal Judges office. For more information please visit: appear to have merit, the Commission may direct  Court Attorney/Referees http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/grievance/co that formal charges be served against the judge  Judicial Hearing Officers (JHO) mplaints.shtml. and a formal hearing be held.  Former or retired judges www.cjc.ny.gov After a formal hearing, the Commission may [email protected] dismiss the complaint or caution the judge FAQs About the Commission Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) Judicial Hearing Officers (JHO) ALJs preside over administrative hearings and NYC Q. Does the Commission have a complaint form Members work for individual agencies which have Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for that I must use? oversight procedures. Please contact the agency New York City Courts A. A signed letter, email, or fax detailing the There are 11 Commission members, each in which your case took place for referral 111 Centre Street allegations of misconduct and naming the judge is serving a four-year term. The Governor information. New York, New York 10013 sufficient. However, we do have a complaint appoints four members, the Chief Judge of the form, which is available on our website. Court of Appeals appoints three, and each of Outside of NYC the four leaders of the State Legislature Federal Judges Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Q. Will the judge know that I submitted a appoints one. The members serve part-time Each judicial circuit provides rules explaining Office of Court Administration complaint? without compensation. Four of the Commission how and where to file a complaint. For more 4 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2001 A. Perhaps. If the Commission decides to members are judges, at least one must be a information please visit Albany, New York 12223 investigate your complaint, the judge is likely to lawyer, and at least two must be non-lawyers. http://www.uscourts.gov/judges- be asked to respond to the allegations you made. The Commission elects one of its members to judgeships/judicial-conduct-disability serve as chair, and it has a clerk. The Commission of Corrections Q. Must the judge disqualify himself or herself Commission appoints an Administrator and Facilities within NYC from my case if I make a complaint? Counsel, who serves full-time and hires and directs the staff. Judges in Other States: Executive Director A. No. http://cjc.ny.gov/Related.Groups/other- 51 Chambers Street, Room 923 states.htm New York, New York 10007 Q. Can the Commission direct that a judge be disqualified, or that a new trial be held, or that any Facilities outside of NYC other relief be granted? Commission Offices Court Attorney/Referees Complaint Officer A. No. The Commission is not a court and has NYC – Family Courts A.E. Smith State Office Building no authority to grant relief to litigants. Principal Office Deputy Chief Administrative Judge 80 South Swan Street, 12th Floor 61 Broadway, Suite 1200 New York City Family Court Albany, New York 12210 Q. Will I hear further from the Commission? New York, New York 10006 60 Lafayette Street (646) 386-4800 New York, New York 10013 A. Yes. The Commission is required to inform Fax: (646) 458-0037 Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau complainants of the disposition of their complaints. NYC – All other courts Information about Traffic Violations Bureau Corning Tower, Suite 2301 Deputy Chief Administrative Judge convictions: https://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/appeal- Empire State Plaza New York City Civil Court tvb-ticket-conviction For More Info: Albany, New York 12223 111 Centre Street (518) 453-4600 Room 1240 New York, New York 10013 Fax: (518) 486-1850

Outside of NYC 400 Andrews Street, Suite 700 Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Rochester, New York 14604 Office of Court Administration (585) 784-4141 4 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2001 www.cjc.ny.gov Fax: (585) 232-7834 Albany, New York 12223