On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced that Naita A. Semaj, a Justice of the Supreme Court, 12th Judicial District (Bronx County), agreed to a censure following improper conduct. The decision stemmed from a formal complaint issued on January 21, 2025, addressing one charge against Semaj, who acknowledged her actions warranted public discipline.
The commission’s determination highlighted repeated inappropriate criticism of prosecutors, which was deemed inconsistent with a judge’s obligation to maintain patience, dignity, and courtesy in official interactions, as well as to avoid bias or its appearance.
“Between March 2022 and April 2023, Judge Semaj unjustifiably ejected three ADAs from her courtroom, yelled at ADAs who appeared before her, made sarcastic comments about them, and inappropriately commented on the pregnancy of one of them,” the Commission said.
The proceedings began when Semaj was served with the formal complaint, to which she responded on February 18, 2025. On April 21, 2025, Semaj and the commission’s administrator, Robert H. Tembbeckjian, entered an Agreed Statement of Facts, stipulating the facts and the sanction of censure while waiving further submissions or oral arguments.
‘The unseemly and repeated criticism of prosecutors is inconsistent with the duty of judges to be patient, dignified, and courteous toward all with whom they deal in an official capacity, as well as to avoid bias or the appearance of bias,” Tembbeckjian said. “The Commission expects that Judge Semaj will be more sensitive to these obligations now and in the future.
Semaj, who has served as a Supreme Court Justice since January 1, 2022, previously held a judicial position in the New York City Civil Court, Bronx County, from 2019 to 2021. Her current term is set to expire on December 31, 2035.
A copy of the press release can be found here.
