On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Syracuse.com reported that a grand jury recommended the removal of Syracuse City Judge Felicia Pitts-Davis from the bench. This recommendation stems from her refusal to officiate a same-sex marriage.
The Appellate Division of the Fourth Judicial Department unsealed the grand jury’s report, revealing its findings and its recommendation for Pitts-Davis’s removal due to misconduct or non-feasance in public office.
This grand jury recommendation is significantly more severe than the censure previously issued by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which had allowed the judge to remain in her position. Pitts-Davis had attempted to prevent the grand jury’s report from being made public, arguing that only the judicial commission had the authority to review judicial conduct. However, the appellate court rejected this argument, affirming that grand juries are legally permitted to make recommendations to the court.
The grand jury’s report detailed events that led to its findings, including an incident on November 15, 2024. On that day, Pitts-Davis was scheduled for Saturday court duty, which included presiding over a hearing and two marriage ceremonies. Upon learning that one of the ceremonies might involve a same-sex couple, she informed a court clerk that her religious beliefs would prohibit her from officiating such a marriage.
Pitts-Davis also requested that any same-sex marriages be rescheduled so another judge could perform them, and that the matter be kept confidential while she sought guidance from the judicial ethics committee.
Although the clerk informed the couple that their wedding had been moved to December 7, the couple expressed concern over the date change due to potential disruption to their plans. Consequently, another clerk arranged for a supervising judge to officiate the ceremony as planned the following morning.
Pitts-Davis, believing the same-sex ceremony had been postponed, officiated a wedding for an opposite-sex couple on the same day. Judge Mary Anne Doherty subsequently performed the marriage for Shawntay Davis and Niccora Davis.
While the appellate court’s decision revealed the grand jury’s findings, the report itself was not released. Grand juries typically investigate evidence to determine if criminal charges should be filed, but in rare instances, they can investigate public officials for misconduct, non-feasance, or neglect in public office, as was the case here.
It is noteworthy that, prior to this case, the Commission on Judicial Conduct had not received any complaints regarding a judge declining to officiate a same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriages have been legal in New York State since 2011. The state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics has provided guidelines stating that while judges are not required to perform marriages, they cannot selectively decline to perform certain types of marriages, such as same-sex, interracial, or interfaith unions.
Pitts-Davis had temporarily recused herself from criminal matters involving the district attorney’s office during the investigation but has since resumed handling criminal cases.
Source: Syracuse.com
