On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced the resignation of Bonnie L. Orden, a Justice of the Greenburgh Town Court in Westchester County. Her resignation comes amid an ongoing investigation concerning allegations related to her medical condition, which reportedly affected her capacity to perform certain judicial duties.
The Commission had informed Judge Orden in January 2025 that it was looking into complaints regarding her health. Following this, Judge Orden agreed to resign effective May 31, 2025, and stipulated that she would neither seek nor accept any judicial office in the future. This stipulation was formalized with the signatures of Judge Orden, her attorney, and the Commission’s Administrator, Robert H. Tembeckjian.
In a notable move, Judge Orden waived her right to confidentiality concerning the Commission’s proceedings, allowing for the public release of the stipulation and the order accepting it. The documents related to her case are available on the Commission’s official website.
In a statement regarding the situation, Administrator Tembeckjian emphasized the Commission’s authority to investigate not only ethical misconduct but also issues related to a judge’s physical or mental capability to fulfill their judicial responsibilities. He noted that Judge Orden recognized the necessity of stepping down and expressed best wishes for her future endeavors.
Judge Orden, who has served as a Town Justice since 2017, had a current term that was set to expire on December 31, 2025. Her resignation follows a procedural framework established by the Commission, which allows for judges to resign permanently while under investigation. Since this procedure was established in 2003, the Commission has accepted a total of 149 permanent resignation stipulations.
A copy of the news release can be found here.
