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Searching for Champions (Correspondence)
NYS
New York State Commission on
Judicial Conduct
SEE
Test Case-State (Commission)
Elena Ruth Sassower, Coordinator of the Center for Judicial Accountability,
Inc., acting pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of
New York (1999-2002)
Doris
L. Sassower v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New York
(1995)
Michael Mantell v. New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct (1999-2001)
*************************
Correspondence underlying Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
& CJA's March 22, 1995 ethics complaint vs the Commission, filed with
the
New York State
Ethics Commission
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT
# 1
Doris
Sassower's October 5, 1989 judicial misconduct complaint vs Westchester Supreme Court
Justice Samuel G. Fredman
Commission's October 17, 1989 acknowledgment letter
Commission's November 28, 1989 dismissal letter
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS
#2 & 3
Doris Sassower's
October 24, 1991 letter to Governor Cuomo
-- sent to NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct
--
3-year judge-trading deal
--
"Cross-Endorsement:
Questions of Protection", letter to the editor, Doris Sassower,
NYT, 6/9/91
--
"Judicial
Selection Panels: An Exercise in Futility", column by Doris
Sassower, NYLJ, 10/22/71
-- Doris
Sassower's Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory listing, 1989
Commission's October 31, 1991 acknowledgment letter
Doris L. Sassower's
January 2, 1992 letter, supplementing October 24, 1991 complaint
--
Doris Sassower's December 19, 1991 letter to Governor Cuomo
--
Judge Kahn's October 17, 1990 decision in Castracan v. Colavita
--
affidavit of Professor Vincent Bonelli, sworn to October 14, 1990
--
eyewitness affidavit of Eli Vigliano, Esq., sworn to October 14, 1990
--
eyewitness affirmation of David Cohen, Esq., dated October 5, 1990.
--
Doris Sassower's October 31, 1991 letter to Governor Cuomo
--
"Impartial body must oversee courts", letter to the editor, Paul
Pontorno, Gannett, 12/30/91
Commission's
January 7, 1992 letter dismissing October 24, 1991 complaint
Commission's
January 13, 1992 letter acknowledging January 2, 1992 complaint
Commission's
April 22, 1992 letter dismissing January 2, 1992 complaint
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT
#4
Doris
Sassower's December 4, 1992 judicial misconduct complaint vs Westchester Supreme Court
Justice Samuel G. Fredman
Doris Sassower's
January 22, 1993 letter &
June 8, 1993 fax
reminder fax
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT #5
CJA's
September 19, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint vs Justices of the Appellate Division, 2nd
Dept. -- &, in particular, Justices William Thompson, Lawrence Bracken, Thomas
Sullivan, Vincent Balletta, Albert Rosenblatt
Commission's September 28, 1994 letter acknowledging complaint
Commission's December 13, 1994 letter dismissing complaint
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT #6
CJA's
October 5, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint vs Justices of the Appellate Division, 2nd
Dept. -- &, in particular, Justice William Thompson
Commission's October 18, 1994 letter acknowledging complaint
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT #7
CJA's
October 26, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint vs Justices of the Appellate Division,
2nd Dept. -- &, in particular, Justices William Thompson, Albert
Rosenblatt, Cornelius O'Brien, Anita Florio, Presiding Justice Guy Mangano
"Where
Do You Go When Judges Break the Law?", CJA's paid op-ed page ad, NYT,
10/26/94, filed with the Commission on that date.
Commission's November 4, 1994 letter acknowledging complaint
Commission's December 13, 1994 letter dismissing complaint
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT
#8
CJA's
December 5, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint vs Justices of the Appellate Division, 2nd
Dept. -- &, in particular, Justices William Thompson, Albert Rosenblatt,
Cornelius O'Brien, Anita Florio
Commission's December 14, 1994 letter acknowledging complaint
Commission's
January 24, 1995 letter dismissing complaint
CJA's Inquiries about the Commission's dismissals:
CJA's December 15, 1994 letter to Commission
Commission's
January 13, 1995 letter
CJA's January 19,
1995
letter to Commission
CJA's March 10,
1995
judicial misconduct complaint vs Justices of the Appellate Division, 2nd Dept.
-- &, particularly, William Thompson, a member of the Commission on Judicial
Conduct
(indicated copies to NY Post, NYS Ethics Commission, Manhattan
District Attorney, Brooklyn District Attorney)
Ex. A: "Who
judges the judges?", NYPost, 3/7/95
Ex. B-1: Doris
Sassower's January 22, 1993 letter to Commission
Ex. B-2: Doris
Sassower's June 8, 1993 fax to Commission
Ex. C-1:
Commission's December 13, 1994 letter
Ex. C-2:
Commission's January 24, 1995 letter
Ex. D: CJA's
December 15, 1994 letter to Commission
Ex. E: Commission's
January 13, 1995 letter
Ex. F: CJA's
January 19, 1995 letter
CJA's informational requests pursuant to 22 NYCRR 7001 et seq. and
FOIL:
CJA's March 20,
1995
letter to Commission
Commission's
March 21, 1995 letter
CJA's April 4, 1995
letter
CJA's April 6, 1995
letter
Commission's
April 6, 1995 letter
CJA's April 10,
1995
letter
Commission's
April 12, 1995 letter
CJA's April 20,
1995
letter
Commission's
April 21, 1995 letter
CJA's April 26, 1995 letter to Robert Freeman, Executive Director/NYS Committee
on Open Government
CJA's May 18, 1995
letter
Commission's
May 22, 1995 letter
Robert Freeman's May 24, 1995 letter to CJA (with indicated copy to
Commission)
CJA's June 29, 1995
letter
Commission's
July 3, 1995 letter
Commission's
July 5, 1995 letter
Gerald
Stern's handwritten note
SEE:
Article 78
Proceeding: Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
(April 10, 1995 - July 13. 1995)
Correspondence calling upon Commissioners to meet their ethical &
professional responsibilities with respect to the fraudulent judicial decision
in
Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
CJA's
September 14, 1995
letter to Chairman Henry T. Berger
CJA's September
14, 1995
"personal and confidential" letter to Administrator/Counsel Gerald Stern
Administrator Stern's "confidential" September 26, 1995 letter to CJA [cc: Robert
Freeman/Committee for Open Gov't]
CJA's
December 15, 1995 letter to Assembly Judiciary Committee -- copy
hand-delivered to Commission
Ex.
A: 22 NYCRR 7000.1 (Definitions), 7000.3 (Investigations &
dispositions);
Judiciary Law 44 (Complaint, investigation; hearing and
disposition);
NYS Constitution, Article VI, Sec. 22
Ex. B: "Comm'n
Abandons Investigative Mandate", CJA ltr to editor, NYLJ,
8/14/95
Ex. C: CJA's
September 14, 1995 letter to Henry Berger, Chairman/Commission
on Judicial Conduct
Ex. D: CJA's September 14, 1995 letter to Richard Rifkin, Executive
Director/Ethics Commission
Ex. E:
CJA's September 19, 1995 letter to Attorney General Dennis Vacco
Ex. F: CJA's August 22, 1995 letter to John Feerick, Chairman/Fund for
Modern Courts
Ex. G: John Feerick's August 28, 1995 letter
Ex. H: January 16, 1987 judicial misconduct complaint, filed with
Commission by M.L. Henry, Jr.
Ex. I: Commission on Judicial Conduct's January 23, 1997 &
July 24, 1987
acknowledgment & dismissal letters
Ex.
J: transcript excerpt from September 22, 1987 Assembly Judiciary Committee
hearing on Comm'n on Judicial Conduct
Ex. K:
final page of M.L. Henry, Jr.'s written testimony
Administrator Stern's December 26, 1995 letter to CJA [cc: Counsel/Assembly Judiciary
Committee]
CJA's January 9,
1996
"personal and confidential" letter to Administrator Stern
Administrator Stern's January 17, 1996 letter to CJA
CJA's January 31,
1996 letter to Commission
Administrator Stern's
February 1, 1996 letter
CJA's February 1, 1996 letter to Lawrence
Goldman, Commission member
CJA's April 15, 1996 letter to
Commission member Goldman
CJA's April 17, 1996 letter to Gerald Stern
Lawrence
Goldman's April 17, 1996 letter to CJA
Gerald Stern's
April 18, 1996 letter to CJA
CJA's
April 22, 1996 letter to Commission member Goldman
Administrator
Stern's May 8, 1996 letter to CJA
CJA's May 6, 1997 fax to
Commission -- transmitting
CJA's
May 5, 1997notice-challenge -- RE: File of Article 78 proceeding, Doris
L. Sassower v. Commission on Judicial Conduct, N.Y. Co. Clerk #95-109141"
Ex.
A-1: "Commission Abandons Investigative Mandate", CJA's ltr to
editor, NYLJ, 8/14/95
Ex. A-2: "A Call for
Concerted Action", CJA's $1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/96
Ex. B: CJA's 3-page
analysis of the fraudulent judicial decision in Doris L. Sassower v.
Commission, with annexed law:
22 NYCRR 7000.1 et seq., Judiciary Law 44.1, NYS
Constitution, Article VI, Sec. 22
CJA's May 13,
1997
letter to Chairman Henry Berger
Administrator Stern's
May 13, 1997 letter
CJA's May 19, 1997 letter to
Administrator Stern
* *
*
Complaints & Correspondence underlying
Elena Ruth Sassower,
Coordinator, Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc., acting pro bono publico
v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New York
CJA's October 6, 1998 judicial misconduct complaint against Appellate Division, 2nd Dept
Justice Albert Rosenblatt & his co-defendant Appellate Division, 2nd Dept
justices in the federal action, Doris L. Sassower v. Mangano, et al
-- enclosing
October 5, 1998 letter to
NYS Commission on Judicial Nomination
--
Ex. A: NYLJ
items, 9/15/98, 9/21/98
--
Ex. B:
portions of Commission on Judicial Nomination's brochure & blank questionnaire
--
Ex. C: "Where Do You Go When
Judges Break the Law?", CJA's $16,770 op-ed page ad, NYT, 10/26/94
--
Ex. D: "Restraining 'Liars
in the Courtroom' and on the Public Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
--
Ex. E-1: "Comm'n Abandons
Investigative Mandate", CJA's letter to editor, NYLJ, 8/14/95
--
Ex. E-2: "A Call for
Concerted Action", CJA's $1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/96
--
Ex. F: "On Choosing Judges,
Pataki Creates Problems", CJA's letter to editor, NYT, 11/16/96
CJA's November 3,
1998
letter to Commission
Commission's
November 3, 1998 letter
CJA's November 18,
1998
letter to Executive Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New
York -- to which the Commission was an indicated recipient
Commission's
December 2, 1998 letter acknowledging that CJA's 11/18/98 ltr would be added to 10/6/98
complaint
CJA's December
10, 1998
letter to Commission
Commission's December 23, 1998 letter
CJA's December
29, 1998
letter
CJA's
January 27, 1999
letter to Commission
Commission's January 25,
1999
letter
CJA's February 3, 1999 letter letter
to Commission & judicial misconduct complaint against the Commission's
highest-ranking judicial member, Appellate Division, 2nd Dept Justice Daniel Joy
Commission's February 5,
1999 letter
CJA's March 11, 1999 letter to
Commission
Ex. A:
CJA's 3/10/95 letter to Commissioners, requesting information about the
Commission's dismissal of its eight
judicial misconduct complaints against powerful, politically-connected judges
Ex. B-1: "Determining
Generally When 'Error' is Misconduct", from 1987 law review article by
Gerald Stern,
Ex. B-2: pages
from Commission's post-hearing memorandum in Matter of Slavin
Ex. C:
Exchange of letters relating to CJA's request, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 7001 et seq.
and the Freedom of
Information Law, for information concerning the promulgation of 22 NYCRR 7000
et seq.
Ex. D:
Exchange of letters in support of CJA's request for Commission's reconsideration
of its summary dismissal of
CJA's 9/19/94 judicial misconduct complaint, based on the principles for
disciplinary review set forth in Gerald
Sterns law review article as to "...When 'Error' is Misconduct"
Ex. E:
Exchange of letters relating to the City Bar's 5/14/97 hearing and CJA's
challenge to the Commission to
address the case file proof that the Commission was the beneficiary of a
fraudulent judicial decision in Doris L.
Sassower v. Commission
SEE:
April 22, 1999:
Elena Ruth Sassower, Coordinator, Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc.,
acting pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New
York
CJA's
May 17, 1999 notice-demand to the Commission
CJA's
February 7, 2000 notice to
Commission
(also addressed to A.G. Spitzer, with indicated copies to Gov.
Pataki, Manhattan D.A., U.S. Attorneys-SDNY/EDNY, Ethics Commission, Judge
Wetzel, Administrative Judge Stephen Crane)
CJA's March 3, 2000 judicial
misconduct complaint against Acting Supreme Court Justice William Wetzel and
Administrative Judge Stephen Crane (with indicated copies to
Wetzel, Crane, Gov. Pataki, Chief Judge Kaye, A.G. Spitzer, Manhattan D.A., U.S.
Attorneys-SDNY/EDNY, Ethics Commission, City Bar, Patricia Salkin,
Director-Gov't Law Center/Albany Law School, media)
Enclosures to Complaint:
(1) CJA's
February 23, 2000 letter to
Governor Pataki
Ex. A: CJA's
February 7, 2000 letter to Nan Weiner
Ex. B-1: "Comm'n Abandons Investigative Mandate",
CJA's letter to editor, NYLJ, 8/14/95
Ex. B-2: "A Call for Concerted Action", CJA's
$1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/97
Ex. B-3: "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom and on
the Public Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
Ex. C: computerized court record of Elena Ruth
Sassower v. Commission and recusal orders of 5 justices
Ex. D: statement of former Bronx Surrogate Bertram
Gelfand at the City Bar's public hearing on the Commission
Ex. E: CJA's
January 7, 1998 letter to Chief Judge Kaye
Ex. F: pp. 5-13 of the transcript of the 5/17/99
proceeding before Justice Lebedeff
Ex. G: pp. 8-17, 22-23 of the transcript of the 6/14/99
court conference before Justice Zweibel
Ex. H: transcript of the 10/8/99 proceeding
before Justice Zweibel
Ex. I: "Pols Rule Courtrooms: Acting Judges
Owe Their Jobs to Pataki, Rudy", NYDaily News, 1/18/00
Ex. J: Kamau Bey's 5/27/99, 6/25/99, and 7/23/99
judicial misconduct complaints against Justice Wetzel &
Commission acknowledgment & dismissal letters
Ex. K: "Observers Say Judge Doomed Defense", NY
Post, 4/17/98, "Wacko Wetzel Left Oliver's Lawyer
Defenseless",
NYPost 5/30/98, "Cybersex Defense Wants Trial Halted", NY Daily News,
3/24/98,
"Defense in Sexual Torture
Case Says Court Let the Accuser Lie", NYT, 3/24/98, "Oliver Jovanovic:
First Sacrifice of the Digital Age", La
Journada, 5/19/98CJA's
(2)
CJA's February 25, 2000 notice
to A.G, Manhattan D.A., U.S. Attorney-SDNY, Ethics Commission
(3)
CJA's March 3, 2000 letter to Chief
Judge Kaye
Ex. A: pages
from Chief Judge Kaye's January 10, 2000 "State of the Judiciary Address"
Ex. B: exchange
of correspondence between Kamau Bey & Chief Judge Kaye's office
Commission's March 7, 2000 letter
acknowledging complaint
Commission's April 6, 2000 letter
dismissing complaint
CJA's
April 24, 2000 transmittal memo to Commission
(also addressed to Gov. Pataki, Chief
Judge Kaye, A.G. Spitzer, Manhattan D.A. Morgenthau, U.S. Attorney White, U.S.
Attorney Lynch, Ethics Commission, Special Inspector General for Fiduciary
Appointments Spatz, with indicated copy to City Bar)
-- transmitting copies of:
(1) CJA's April 18, 2000 letter to
Chief Judge Kaye
Ex. A:
March 27, 2000 letter from Michael Colodner, Counsel/Unified Court System
Ex. B:
Chief Administrative Judge's 1998 report, pp. 45-6, 57
Ex. C-1: CJA's March 3, 2000 judicial misconduct complaint vs. Judges Wetzel &
Crane
Ex.
C-2: Commission's March 7, 2000 acknowledgment letter
Ex.
C-3: Commission's April 6, 2000 dismissal letter
(2) CJA's April 24,
2000 letter
to Manhattan D.A. Morgenthau
(3) CJA's April 24,
2000 letter
to U.S. Attorney White
(4) CJA's April 24,
2000 letter
to U.S. Attorney Lynch
CJA's
April 24, 2000 letter to Commission's Clerk, Albert Lawrence
CJA's
April 24, 2000 letter to Commission's Administrator, Gerald Stern -- "RE:
Request for legal authority authorizing the Commission to discard judicial
misconduct complaints"
--
George
Sassower's April 12, 2000 letter to Gerald Stern
CJA's May 17, 2000 letter to
Commission -- "RE: (1) Request for a probative statement from Chairman
Salisbury as to the basis for the Commission's purported dismissal, without
investigation, of CJA's March 3, 2000 judicial misconduct complaint, the number
of Commissioners voting, their identities, and the availability of review by
Article 78, etc. (pp. 1-8); (2) Request that the Commission cancel the 1994
authorization it received from the State Archives and Records Administration to
destroy its files of judicial misconduct complaints dismissed, without
investigation, after a five-year retention, and that it immediately cease such
destruction, etc. (pp. 8-11)"
Ex
A: Commission's April 27, 2000 letter to CJA
Ex B: CJA's
April 24, 2000 letter to Commission: ATT: Stern
Ex C: CJA's
April 24, 2000 letter to Commission: ATT: Lawrence
Ex D: p. 60 of
"...And Justice For All", report of Temporary Commission on the State Court
System (1973)
Ex E: "D.C.
judge probed on 'steered' cases", The Star-Ledger, 5/3/00
Ex F:
Commission's Records Disposition Request, March 30, 1994
CJA's
June 26, 2000 letter to Commission Chairman Eugene Salisbury -- "RE:
Your Non-Response to CJA's May 17, 2000 letter for (1) 'a probative statement'
regarding the Commission's purported dismissal of CJA's March 3, 2000 judicial
misconduct complaint; and (2) cancellation of the 1994 authorization the
Commission received from the State Archives and Records Administration to
destroy files"
CJA's July 3, 2000
letter to Commission, enclosing
CJA's June 30, 2000
letter to Chief Judge Kaye
Commission's
July 12, 2000 inquiry letter
Chairman Salisbury's July 19, 2000 letter
CJA's
August 3, 2000 judicial misconduct complaint against Chief Judge Kaye, filed with
Commission
Commission's
August 8, 2000 letter acknowledging CJA's August 3, 2000 complaint
Commission's
September 19, 2000 letter dismissing CJA's August 3, 2000 complaint
CJA's September 25,
2000
letter to Commission --
"RE: CJA's August 3, 2000 Judicial Misconduct Complaint against Judge Judith
Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of New York"
Commission's
October 5, 2000 letter
* *
*
Subsequent Judicial Misconduct Complaints
CJA's March 4, 2003 judicial misconduct complaint against Westchester Supreme
Court Justice John R. LaCava & Ninth Judicial District Administrative Judge
Francis A. Nicolai
Ex. A: analysis
Commission's March 7, 2003 letter acknowledging complaint
Commission's June 19, 2003 letter dismissing complaint
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