On Thursday, August 1, 2024, the Daily Sentinel reported that New York State Supreme Court Justice Erin P. Gall had been suspended with pay by the New York State Court of Appeals.
The decision to suspend Justice Gall came after the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct determined she should be removed from her position on the state Supreme Court, Fifth Judicial District. This recommendation was in response to an incident that occurred in July 2022 where Justice Gall and her family attended a graduation party in New Hartford.
A fight broke out between some attendees and uninvited guests, resulting in police being called to the scene. Body camera footage from responding officers showed Justice Gall making racially charged and profanity-laced comments directed at a group of Black teenagers who were looking for the keys to their car so
they could leave. She was also heard threatening to shoot them if they came onto the property again.
In a letter to the court, Robert H. Tembeckjian – the administrator and counsel for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct – said that allowing a judge under a removal determination to continue exercising judicial powers could undermine public confidence in the justice system. He noted Justice Gall’s misconduct involved making racially offensive and insensitive remarks, as well as threatening gun violence while invoking her judicial office.
Justice Gall’s attorney, Robert F. Julian, sent a letter on July 23 stating his client was prepared to continue serving on the Supreme Court. He questioned aspects of the commission’s determination, arguing it did not properly consider evaluations from two psychologists who had treated Justice Gall. The letter claimed she acknowledged her conduct was inappropriate but suffered a trauma reaction during the party incident due to having witnessed her son and husband in a fist fight, which was an unexpected traumatic event following her own prior assault.
Source: Daily Sentinel
