NYC Chief Judge Janet DiFiore Faces Ethics Probe As She Leaves Office
https://www.law360.com/legalindustry/articles/1510545

Law360 (July 11, 2022, 6:33 PM EDT) – New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who said Monday she plans to resign at the end of August, is currently under investigation by the state judicial ethics watchdog, according to documents obtained by Law360 and a person familiar with the matter.

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has been investigating New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore for allegedly interfering in the disciplinary hearing of the New York State Court Officers Association president, who is a frequent critic of the chief judge.

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has been investigating Judge DiFiore for allegedly interfering in the disciplinary hearing of Dennis Quirk, who is the president of the New York State Court Officers Association and a frequent critic of the chief judge.

Quirk faced potential punishment for writing a letter threatening to post paper copies of an old newspaper story about Judge DiFiore's alleged affair on court buildings statewide.

In August 2021, Judge DiFiore wrote an ex parte letter to the hearing officer, Phyllis Orlikoff Flug, asking her to punish Quirk, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Law360. Judicial ethics canons generally prohibit judges from using their titles to influence an ongoing proceeding for personal gain.

Judge DiFiore did not give a specific reason for her decision to resign Monday, saying only, "It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my professional life."