Half-Baked Settlement Lands Judge In Hot Water

The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct (as it regularly does) has sanctioned a non-attorney judge for his involvement in a matter that took place on premises that he owned. The property was rented to Nana's Bakery and Cafe (the tenant was named Cook, not Baker) for $750 per month. Ms. Cook was $2,500 in arrears in payments due to the judge at the time of the events described below.

A bakery employee was a social acquaintance of the judge. The judge received a warrant seeking an arrest of the employee on petit larceny charges (involving theft from Nana's). The judge involved himself in settlement attempts that resulted in a payment to Ms. Cook. Ms. Cook paid the judge rent arrearages.

 The judge acknowledged that his intervention was inappropriate. The commission imposed a censure. (Mike Frisch)