On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced that Robert J. Muller, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District, agreed to be censured for conflicts of interest related to his re-election campaign. The Commission found that Muller failed to disqualify himself from cases involving attorneys and law firms that contributed to fundraising events for his campaign.
During his 2022 re-election campaign, Muller presided over 40 cases in which at least one attorney had hosted a fundraiser for him or had connections to his campaign’s finance team. Despite an advisory opinion that required him to disclose these relationships and potentially recuse himself, Muller did not inform the parties involved until after Election Day.
The Commission’s determination highlighted that Muller’s actions gave the appearance of impropriety and undermined public confidence in the judiciary. Robert H. Tembeckjian, the Commission’s Administrator, stated that a judge’s integrity is compromised when they handle cases involving financial supporters. He noted that had Muller not agreed to retire this year, the Commission might have recommended a suspension instead of censure.
Muller, who has served as a Supreme Court Justice since 2009, is set to retire on December 31, 2025, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Although he could seek certification to remain in office for an additional two years, Muller has chosen not to pursue that option.
A copy of the news release can be found here.
