NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT
Julie M. Kuck, a Justice of the Lindley Town Court, Steuben County, resigned while under investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. In November 2024, the Commission apprised Judge Kuck that it was investigating complaints alleging that in June 2024, she was charged with alcohol-related violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, which included a felony.
In October 2024, Judge Kuck pleaded guilty to Driving While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor, in satisfaction of all the charges. Judge Kuck resigned from office on January 10, 2025, and agreed never to seek or accept judicial office at any time in the future. The Commission accepted a stipulation to that effect signed by the judge and the Commission’s Administrator. Judge Kuck waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the limited extent that the stipulation and Commission’s order accepting it would be public.
Judge Kuck, who is not an attorney, had been a Justice of Lindley Town Court since 2017. Her current term would have expired on December 31, 2025. The stipulation and the Commission’s order can be found on the Commission’s website: www.cjc.ny.gov.
Statement by Commission Administrator
Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian made the following statement. “Driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other perception diminishing substances endangers the driver, passengers, pedestrians and others on the road. Judges must be especially mindful of setting the right example in this regard, since their conduct on or off the bench is so often scrutinized and publicized.”
Statistics Relating to Prior Commission Decisions
The Commission has accepted 145 such permanent resignation stipulations since the procedure was instituted in 2003. Since 1978, the Commission has also issued 288 determinations of admonition against judges in New York State, 352 determinations of censure and 185 determinations of removal.
The Court of Appeals has reviewed 102 Commission determinations. The Court accepted the Commission’s sanctions in 86 cases (77 of which were removals, six were censures and three were admonitions). Of the remaining 16 cases, two sanctions were increased from censure to removal, and 13 were reduced: nine removal determinations were modified to censure, one removal was modified to admonition, two censures were modified to admonition, and one censure was rejected and the charges dismissed. The Court remitted one matter to the Commission for further proceedings.
Counsel
In the proceedings before the Commission, Judge Kuck represented herself. The Commission was represented by Deputy Administrator John J. Postel, Senior Attorney Cassie M. Kocher and Senior Investigator Betsy Sampson.
