Never To Return

A press release of the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct

Jeffrey M. Zimmerman, a Judge of the New York City Criminal Court and an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, Bronx County – who was charged with misconduct by the Commission on Judicial Conduct for engaging in pattern of discourteous behavior, among other things – has resigned from office and agreed to never return. In January 2025, Judge Zimmerman was served with a Formal Written Complaint, alleging that he, while presiding over criminal cases:

• Interfered in the attorney-client relationship between a defendant and his attorney, repeatedly disparaged the defendant’s attorney, and appeared to prejudge the defendant’s guilt;

• Spoke to the jury in private about the case it had just heard, and conveyed information to the jury that could be interpreted as implicitly criticizing its verdict;

• Disparaged a fellow judge who authored an opinion with which he disagreed; and

• Failed to be patient, dignified, and courteous to attorneys appearing before him.

Judge Zimmerman waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the limited extent that the stipulation and the Commission’s order accepting it would be public. Judge Zimmerman had served as a Judge of the New York City Criminal Court since 2019, and an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court since 2023. He previously served as an interim Judge of the New York City Civil Court from 2018 to 2019. His current term would have expired on December 31, 2028.

(Mike Frisch)