On Friday, September 5, 2025, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello filed a formal complaint with the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct against Rochester City Court Judge Michael C. Lopez.
The complaint accuses Judge Lopez of undermining public confidence in the judicial system through improper bail decision reviews. Bello’s four-page complaint cites two recent felony cases where Judge Lopez allegedly acted outside of normal judicial procedure, behaving as a “de facto criminal defense attorney.”
One case highlighted in the complaint is People v. Jeremiah Black. Black was arrested by Rochester police on August 25 on domestic violence charges. Initially, bail was set at $3,000 cash, a $6,000 insurance company bond, or a $25,000 partially secured bond. According to the complaint, the following day, Black’s case was directed to Judge Lopez, who then released Black under non-monetary conditions. Bello’s complaint states that this action occurred without any request from either the prosecution or the defense.
The second case mentioned in the complaint is People v. Charles Evans. Evans was arrested on September 2 on felony drug charges and several misdemeanors. Bello’s complaint emphasizes that Evans had nine prior convictions, five parole revocations, and a history of failing to appear in court. Judge Lopez allegedly overturned a bail decision the day after Evans’ arrest and released him, despite objections from prosecutors. The complaint notes that Evans’ attorney was not present, and no bail application had been requested at the time of the decision.
Furthermore, the complaint addresses Judge Lopez’s practice of directing defendants who receive bail in evening arraignments in Rochester City Court’s “Part 1” to appear before him the following day for review. Bello argues that this practice erodes trust in the judicial system and compromises public safety.
