On Thursday, July 18, 2024, HudsonValley360 reported that Hudson City Court Judge John Connor declined to recuse himself from the case involving Cameron Jamieson, who is accused of disrupting a mass at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church in Hudson, New York on April 14th.

Jamieson, 47, was charged with making a terroristic threat, a class D felony, and two misdemeanors for the incident. His public defender, Shane Zoni, had filed a motion in April requesting that Judge Connor recuse himself due to his previous baptism at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church. However, Judge Connor insisted he had no current connection to the church, stating that he had not attended mass there in over 30 years.

At a hearing on July 17, Judge Connor denied the motion for his recusal but transferred consideration of Jamieson’s mental health evaluations to Judge Cheryl Roberts. As a certified mental health judge, Judge Roberts was deemed better suited to oversee proceedings to determine Jamieson’s fitness for trial based on his mental state. Judge Roberts acknowledged Jamieson’s mental health as a “complicated issue.”

Jamieson had already undergone two conflicting mental health evaluations in April following Judge Connor’s initial order. While two evaluators found Jamieson competent to stand trial, a third determined he was not competent. Judge Roberts will now oversee a third evaluation to help resolve the discrepancy.

Judge Connor stated that Judge Roberts could retain jurisdiction over the full case if she wished after completing the mental health proceedings. However, she also had the option of returning the case to Judge Connor’s court if desired.

Public defender Shane Zoni maintained Judge Connor should have recused himself due to his baptism at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church. However, Judge Connor reiterated his insistence that he had no ongoing membership, attendance, or financial support for the church. With Judge Connor declining to recuse himself, Zoni indicated the public defender’s office would consider an appeal of the decision.

The charges against Jamieson stem from an April 14th incident where he allegedly disrupted Sunday mass by shouting and approaching the altar holding a glass bottle. He was apprehended by churchgoers before police arrived. Jamieson is scheduled to appear in court again on August 1st.

 

 

Source: HudsonValley360