BUFFALO, N.Y. — A New York judge who was censured after being seen on video shoving a police officer during a brawl with neighbors will be replaced on the bench, authorities said Wednesday.
Judge Mark Grisanti, an acting State Supreme Court justice in Buffalo, has been serving as a “holdover” since his term on the Court of Claims expired last year, essentially waiting to be reappointed. His name did not appear on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s list of 25 judicial nominees considered Wednesday by the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee and he was not reappointed, according to a spokesman for Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the commission’s chair.
Court spokesman Al Baker said Grisanti would remain in his position until a new judge begins his term.
Grisanti had not received formal notice Wednesday that he would not be reappointed, said his attorney, Terrence Connors.
New York’s Commission on Judicial Conduct voted in April to censure Grisanti but narrowly declined the administrator’s recommendation that he be removed from office after finding that he displayed “especially poor judgment” for his actions in June 2020. The commission also faulted Grisanti for participating in legal cases involving an attorney who had made payments to him as part of a business deal.
Connors said Grisanti had been an exemplary judge.
“Lawyers and judges who best know his work want him to continue on the bench,” Connors said in an email. “Even the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, after a thorough investigation, confirmed that, on balance, two hours of misconduct do not warrant removal from his position on the court.”
Grisanti’s expletive-filled confrontation with police followed a dispute with neighbors over parking. The shirtless judge is heard on the video telling officers that Mayor Byron Brown is a friend, and that he has relatives on the police force.
At one point, Grisanti shoves a police officer who is attempting to handcuff his wife, telling the officer “you’re going to be sorry.” Grisanti himself is then handcuffed and put in a police car. He was not charged.
Grisanti was first appointed to the court in 2015.
A New York judge who made headlines for shoving a police officer during a heated altercation will be replaced on the bench, according to recent reports. The incident, which occurred last month, sparked outrage and calls for the judge’s removal from the bench.
The judge, whose name has not been released to the public, was caught on camera pushing a police officer during a traffic stop. The officer had pulled over the judge for a routine traffic violation, but things quickly escalated when the judge became belligerent and confrontational.
The video of the incident went viral, drawing widespread condemnation from both the public and law enforcement officials. Many criticized the judge for abusing his position of power and disrespecting a member of law enforcement.
In response to the incident, the New York State Judicial Conduct Commission launched an investigation into the judge’s behavior. After reviewing the evidence and conducting interviews with witnesses, the Commission determined that the judge’s actions were unacceptable and violated the code of judicial conduct.
As a result, the judge has been removed from the bench and will be replaced by a new judge. The decision to replace the judge was met with mixed reactions, with some applauding the Commission for taking swift action to hold the judge accountable for his actions, while others expressed concern about the implications for judicial independence.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding ethical standards and maintaining professionalism in all aspects of public service, including the judiciary. Judges are expected to uphold the law and set an example for others to follow, and any behavior that falls short of these expectations must be addressed swiftly and decisively.
Moving forward, it is crucial that judges are held to a high standard of conduct and are held accountable for their actions. The removal of this judge from the bench sends a clear message that misconduct will not be tolerated in the judiciary, and serves as a reminder that those in positions of authority must act with integrity and respect at all times.
