Officials announced on Wednesday the replacement of a New York judge censured for shoving a police officer during a dispute with neighbors on video.
Judge Mark Grisanti, an acting State Supreme Court justice in Buffalo, has been sitting as a “holdover” since his term on the Court of Claims expired last year, essentially waiting to be re-appointed. According to a spokesperson for the commission’s head, Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, his name did not appear on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s list of 25 judicial nominations before the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, nor did he receive a new appointment.
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According to court spokeswoman Al Baker, Grisanti will remain in his position until a new judge begins his tenure.
Grisanti did not get formal notice Wednesday that he would not be reappointed, according to his attorney, Terrence Connors.
The Commission on Judicial Conduct in New York censured Grisanti in April, but narrowly rejected the administrator’s proposal to remove him from office, citing his “especially poor judgment” for his actions in June 2020. The panel also chastised Grisanti for taking part in judicial proceedings involving an attorney who had made payments to him as part of a business transaction.
Connors praised Grisanti’s performance as a judge.
“Lawyers and judges who are most familiar with his work want him to remain on the bench,” Connors wrote in an email. “Even the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, after a thorough investigation, confirmed that, on balance, two hours of misconduct do not warrant removal from his position on the court.”
Grisanti’s expletive-filled altercation with cops came after a parking issue with his neighbors. The tape captures the shirtless judge telling officers that Mayor Byron Brown is a friend and that he has family members in the police department.
At one point, Grisanti shoves a police officer who is attempting to handcuff his wife, telling him, “You’re going to be sorry.” The police then handcuff Grisanti and place him in a police car. He wasn’t charged.
The court first appointed Grisanti in 2015.
