Court of Appeals suspends Judge McGuire

By FRITZ MAYER
Posted 5/5/20

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Sullivan County Court Judge Michael McGuire has been suspended with pay by the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, while the court reviews …

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Court of Appeals suspends Judge McGuire

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Sullivan County Court Judge Michael McGuire has been suspended with pay by the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, while the court reviews the case against him. The decision came on April 30 with all seven judges on the panel concurring with the decision.

On March 26, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJD) recommended that McGuire be removed from the bench for a number of indiscretions. In a statement issued on March 27, SCJC Administrator Robert Tembeckjian wrote, “The breadth of Judge McGuire’s misconduct is stunning. He wrongfully ordered people to jail and handcuffed family court litigants; often berated and yelled at court staff and litigants; presided in matters despite having a disqualifying conflict; impermissibly practiced law and used court staff to assist him; and otherwise misused court staff. He compounded it all with untruthful testimony during the commission’s proceedings. Such egregious misconduct warrants removal from judicial office.”

The Sullivan County Legislature voted in February to appoint McGuire as the next county attorney; they were aware of the coming SCDJ report at the time. Legislator Michael Brooks said the lawmakers interviewed McGuire at length on the topic and the majority still believed that McGuire should be the next county attorney. McGuire begins his job as county attorney on Monday, May 4.

The move has sparked numerous letters of protest, which have been read aloud at Sullivan County meetings that have been available for viewing by the public online. One from former teacher and activist Kathy Aberman read, “I strongly urge this legislature, those who support Mr. McGuire, to reconsider this selection and find someone more worthy of serving our county.”

A Facebook page called Sullivan County New York Family Court Support Group has been operating for several years and has been highly critical of McGuire’s family court practices. A post on the page on April 30 said, “The trust of local government is probably broken beyond repair now because of this illegal, immoral act against the citizens of Sullivan County New York. I have never in my life seen outright corruption win like this.”

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