On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced that Todd C. Whitford, a Justice of the Jerusalem Town Court in Yates County, has resigned from his position and agreed never to seek judicial office again. This action follows a formal complaint filed against Whitford in September 2025, which accused him of biased behavior, discourtesy, and a lack of legal competence.

The Commission’s complaint detailed four specific instances of alleged misconduct. One charge stemmed from a preliminary hearing involving violations of an order of protection, where Whitford was accused of demeaning the alleged victim, exhibiting bias against women, expressing disdain for law enforcement, mishandling evidentiary procedures, relying on unadmitted materials, and demonstrating a lack of understanding regarding orders of protection.

Another charge related to a sentencing hearing for a serious traffic incident. In this instance, Whitford allegedly made inappropriate remarks about the prosecutor and defense attorney, expressed sympathy for the defendant, questioned the defendant’s culpability despite a guilty plea, and used vulgar language.

The complaint also cited a suppression hearing during which Whitford reportedly laughed at the prosecutor, made derogatory comments about his legal abilities, improperly pressured him to act as a witness, and mocked his objections.

Finally, the Commission alleged that while accepting a guilty plea in a DWI case, Whitford criticized the law mandating incarceration for repeat offenders, describing the statute as “disgusting” and “wrong,” and expressing remorse that the defendant would be incarcerated.

Whitford, who is not an attorney, had served as a Justice of the Jerusalem Town Court since 2018. His current term would have expired on December 31, 2026. He waived the confidentiality provision applicable to Commission proceedings, allowing the stipulation and the Commission’s order accepting it to be made public.

Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian stated that Whitford’s resignation was an appropriate resolution, emphasizing that judges are required to maintain professional competence, fairness, impartiality, and respect.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.