Double Parked On April Fools Day

The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct has admonished a judge

The Complaint alleged that on April 1, 2022, respondent asserted her judicial status to a school safety officer while attempting to arrange for a double-parked car to be moved. When the owner of the car came out of the school to move it, respondent became angry, cursed at her, and again referred to her judicial status.

Particulars

On April 1, 2022, at the beginning of the school day, around 8:30 AM, respondent was driving to work on Pacific Street, a one-lane, one-way street near a public elementary school. She was unable to drive down the street because she was stopped behind a school bus that was blocked by a double-parked car.

After several minutes, during which the school bus did not move, respondent got out of her car and walked up to the bus driver to ask why he was holding up traffic. The bus driver told her that he could not move past the double-parked car in front of him. At this point, there was a line of cars waiting behind respondent’s car that blocked her from backing up to leave the street. Respondent returned to her car and waited several more minutes, during which no one came to move the double parked car. Respondent then got out of her car and walked into the school.

Inside the school, respondent introduced herself as a judge to the school safety officer and handed her a business card. The business card identified respondent by name and as a supervising judge of the Civil Court, Kings County. Respondent told the officer that she had to get to work at the courthouse.

Respondent also showed the safety officer photos she had taken with her cell phone of the license plate of the double parked car, along with a placard displayed on the car’s dashboard. Respondent believed the placard contained inconsistent information and therefore asked the safety officer whether the placard was real, as well as if an announcement could be made about the car. She then left the school and waited outside.

The double-parked car was owned by a teacher who had been inside the school. When the teacher came outside to move the car, respondent became angry and called her a “stupid bitch.” Respondent further stated, in substance, that she also had a placard but could not use it to double park, and that she had a courthouse to run.

The judge acknowledged the misconduct and wrote a letter of apology to the teacher. (Mike Frisch)