Doing Something Wrong
The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct has accepted resignations of two town court justices.
Julie M. Kuck, a Justice of the Lindley Town Court, Steuben County, resigned while under investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
In November 2024, the Commission apprised Judge Kuck that it was investigating complaints alleging that in June 2024, she was charged with alcohol-related violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, which included a felony. In October 2024, Judge Kuck pleaded guilty to Driving While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor, in satisfaction of all the charges.
From The Leader
New York State Police charged Kuck, who was 39 at the time, following a traffic stop June 14, 2024 in the Town of Erwin.
Troopers charged Kuck with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher, both misdemeanors, and aggravated DWI via Leandra’s Law for allegedly driving intoxicated with a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle, a felony.
In an unrelated matter
In November 2024, Judge Snyder was served with a Formal Written Complaint, alleging that in October 2023, in an effort to be excused from Grand Jury duty, he introduced himself as a town justice to the presiding judge and said he could not serve as a Grand Juror because he believed that anyone who comes before him is guilty and therefore he could not be impartial. Later, when appearing for testimony at the Commission, Judge Snyder repeatedly said that all litigants who appeared before him “did something wrong” and, among other things, “I know they’re guilty because they did something wrong. That’s how they got a ticket,” and “…That’s the reason why they got the ticket to appear in court, because they did something wrong.
He advised the judge of his judicial office
When advised by Justice Jordan that judges are not exempt from jury duty, Respondent replied, “I know,” and stated, “I have Court on a lot of those same nights.” Justice Jordan told Respondent that the Assistant Attorney General would conclude the Grand Jury proceedings by 4:30 PM each day. In response, Respondent asserted, “I have to get set up by 5:00 and I live in Petersburg[h].”
Respondent then volunteered, “I know everybody come in front of me, I know they are guilty. They would not be in front of me.”
(Mike Frisch)