On Friday, January 30, 2026, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced that Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Edward H. King resigned while under investigation for alleged financial misconduct. The Commission had been investigating Justice King since December 2025, following various complaints against him.

The allegations against Justice King include participating in a scheme to defraud investors in real estate and business ventures. He was accused of improperly receiving escrow funds as an unauthorized party, refusing to return funds deposited into his attorney escrow accounts, and transferring funds to unauthorized parties.

Further accusations involved Justice King acting as an escrow agent and maintaining attorney escrow accounts while serving as a full-time judge, which violates rules prohibiting full-time judges from acting as fiduciaries or engaging in business activities.

He also allegedly continued to identify himself as an attorney and engage in law-related activities, including communications to the U.S. Trustee’s Office, despite rules barring full-time judges from practicing law. Justice King denied all allegations.

Judge King retired from his judicial office on December 31, 2025, and has agreed never to seek or accept judicial office in the future. The Commission accepted a stipulation to that effect, signed by Judge King, his attorney, and the Commission’s Administrator. He also waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the extent that the stipulation and Commission’s order accepting it would be made public.

Prior to his appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court, King served as a Judge of the New York City Civil Court, Kings County, from 2023 to June 2024. Having reached the age of 70 in 2024, he was certified to serve on the Supreme Court for a two-year period commencing January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2026.

Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian stated, “On or off the bench, a judge must respect and comply with the law and promote public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary. The alarming allegations of financial impropriety against Judge King were so egregious as to warrant his permanent departure from the bench.”

A copy of the news release can be found here.