WEBPAGE for CJA's testimony
at the Senate Judiciary Committee's December 16, 2009 (aborted) hearing on the Commission on Judicial Conduct & Court-controlled attorney disciplinary system

CJA's underlying correspondence
with Commission on Judicial Conduct (& Senate Judiciary Committee)

CJA's September 16, 2009 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Counsel -- "September 24, 2009 Hearing on the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct & Court-Run Attorney Disciplinary System"

Commission Administrator Tembeckjian's Sepember 22, 2009 e-mail & letter to CJA (with copies to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sampson & Counsel)

CJA's September 23, 2009 e-mail to Administrator Tembeckjian (with copies to Chair Sampson & Counsel) -- "Request to Inspect Pursuant to FOIL -- RE:  Litigation Challenges to the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct -- Particularly by Complainants"

Commission Adminstrator Tembeckjian's September 28, 2009 e-mail to CJA  (with copies to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sampson & Counsel) -- "Request to Inspect Pursuant to FOIL -- RE: Litigation Challenges to the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct -- Particularly by Complainants"

October 29, 2009 e-mail from the Commission's Public Information Officer

click here for:
CJA's drafted written testimony

DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS TO BE HANDED UP, IN SUBSTANTIATION --
IN APPROXIMATE ORDER OF PRESENTATION

I.   CASE FILE EVIDENCE:

CJA's two lawsuits vs Appellate Division, Second Dept. Justices and their Ninth Judicial District Grievance Committee, etc. challenging the constitutionality of New York's attorney disciplinary law & chronicling its retaliatory use against a judicial whistle-blowing attorney
 

    #1:  Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Article 78 proceeding -- (1994) 

                       (see "Questions Presented" & "Reasons for Granting the Writ": pp. 13-29)
   
    #2:  Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Federal Action -- (1998)                          

             --- INITIATING VERIFIED COMPLAINT 
                     Ex A:   Appellate Division, Second Dept's June 14, 1991 suspension order

                            Ex B:   Written three-year judge-trading Deal

                     [FULL RECORD:   "Test Case: Federal-Mangano"

CJA's two lawsuits vs. Commission on Judicial Conduct, challenging the constitutionality of rules, statutory provisions, and practices of the Commission

    #1:  VERIFIED PETITION       [FULL RECORD: Doris L. Sassower v. Commission

                        Ex A: 10/26/ ad-complaint, "Where Do You Go When Judges Break the Law?"

                        Ex B-1: Martindale-Hubbell law listing, 1989
                        Ex B-2: Elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 1989
                        Ex C: October 5, 1989 judicial misconduct complaint
                        Ex D: October 24, 1991judicial misconduct complaint  (vs Justice Thompson)
                        Ex E: January 2, 1992 judicial misconduct complaint
                        Ex F: December 4, 1992 judicial misconduct complaint 
                        Ex G:  September 19, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint (vs Justice Thompson)
                        Ex H: October 5, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint   (vs Justice Thompson)
                        Ex I: October 26, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint  (vs Justice Thompson)
                        Ex J: December 5, 1994 judicial misconduct complaint  (vs Justice Thompson)
                        Ex K: Commission acknowledgment letters
                        Ex L: Commission dismissal letters
                        Ex M: January 22, 1993 letter to Commission
                        Ex N:  May 20, 1986 judicial misconduct complaint

 JUDICIARY LAW 44.1  "...Upon receipt of a complaint (a) the commission shall conduct an investigation of the complaint; or (b) the Commission may dismiss the complaint if it determines that the complaint on its face lacks merit..."

    #2:   VERIFIED PETITION -- with its six Claims for Relief (at paras. 47-81)

                                [Full record:   "Test Case - State (Commission)"

        Ex A: CJA's 5/5/97 notice, with 3-page analysis of fraudulent judicial decision
                         in Doris L. Sassower v. Commission

Ex B: CJA's public interest ad, "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom' and on the Public Payroll" (NYLJ, 8/27/97, pp. 3-4)
Ex C-1: CJA's 10/6/98 judicial misconduct complaint, filed with Commission on Judicial Conduct [Commission]  (vs Justice Thompson)

Ex C-2: CJA's 10/5/98 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination

Ex D-1: CJA's 11/3/98 letter to Commission

Ex D-2: Commission's 11/3/98 letter to CJA

Ex E:    CJA's 11/18/98 letter to City Bar

Ex F-1: Commission's 12/2/98 letter to CJA

Ex F-2: CJA's 12/10/98 letter to Commission

Ex F-3: Commission's December 23, 1998 letter to CJA

Ex F-4: CJA's 12/29/98 letter to Commission

Ex F-5: Commission's 1/25/99 letter to CJA

Ex F-6: CJA's 2/3/99 letter to Commission

Ex F-7: Commission's 2/5/99 letter to CJA

Ex G: CJA's 3/11/99 letter to Commission

Ex H: pp. 368-72 of Assembly Judiciary Committee's 9/22/87 hearing 

                FINAL MOTION TO THE NY COURT OF APPEALS:  LEAVE TO APPEAL

             Ex A-1: App. Div's 12/18/01 decision/order

               Ex A-2: App. Div's 3/26/02 order

               Ex B-1: Ct of Appeals' 9/12/02 decision/order on disqualification (#581)

       Ex B-2: Ct of Appeals' 9/12/02 decision/order on appeal of right & sanctions (#719)  
       Ex C: Justice Wetzel's 1/31/00 decision/order
       Ex D: Justice Cahn's 7/13/95 decision/order in Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
       Ex E: Justice Lehner's 9/30/99 decision/order in Mantell v. Commission
       Ex F:  Appellate Division's 11/16/00 decision/order in Mantell v. Commission
       Ex G: CJA's 3/3/00 letter to Chief Judge Kaye, with inventory of transmitted record
       Ex H:  3-page analysis of Cahn's 7/13/95 decision in Doris Sassower v. Commission
       Ex I:  13-page analysis of Justice Lehner's 9/30/99 decision in Mantell v. Commission
     Ex J:  3/27/00 letter of Counsel, Unified Court System
       Ex K: 1-page analysis of App. Div's  12/16/00 decision in Mantell v. Commission
     Ex L-1: 19-page analysis of App. Div's 12/18/01 decision (1/7/02 notice-complaint)
       Ex L-2: Commission's 2/27/02 acknowledgment letter
       Ex M-1: "I rise in defense of state courts", Chief Judge Kaye, Daily News, 1/17/02
       Ex M-2: "State judicial system is accountable to public", Judge Kaye,
                   Albany Times Union, 2/10/02

           

II.   CJA'S LLUSTRATIVE ADVOCACY TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS:

CJA's March 5, 2003 memo to NYS Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committee leaders
in support of hearing on Commission on Judicial Conduct
 -- WITH its transmitted: 
        Report of NYS Comptroller Ed Regan , "COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT -- NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC: Resolving Charges Against Judges is Cloaked in Secrecy" (November 1989) -- & his press release, "COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT NEEDS OVERSIGHT"  (December 7, 1989)

CJA's October 26, 2001 letter to then-Senator David A Paterson --
"CJA's Request for Legislative Hearing/Investigation of NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct"
       Ex. A: inventory of transmittal
       Ex. B: January 16, 1987 judicial misconduct complaint of M.L. Henry, Jr.
       Ex. C: Commission's acknowledgment & dismissal letters
 ---  WITH its transmitted:
            (1) Statement of former Bronx Surrogate Bertram Gelfand at City Bar's May 14, 1997 hearing
            (2) Statement of CJA at City Bar's May 14, 1997 hearing
            (3)  CJA's $3,077.22 public interest ad, "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom' and on
                        the Public Payroll", New York Law Journal, 8/27/97, pp. 3-4

CJA's Opposition to Senate Confirmation of the "Merit Selection" Reappointment of New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye
      -- Elena Sassower's March 6, 2007 opposition statement
                (focused on Chief Judge Kaye's complicity in the corruption
                                     of the Commission on Judicial Conduct)
         -- Doris L. Sassower's March 6, 2007 opposition statement
                (focused on Chief Judge Kaye's complicity in the corruption
                                    of the attorney discipline system)

CJA's testimony for hearings on Commission on Judicial Conduct & attorney disciplinary system at Senate Judiciary Committee's January 27, 2009 hearing on "merit selection" to the NY Court of Appeals

III.   CJA's PUBLIC INTEREST ADS & PERTINENT PUBLISHED PIECES

"Where Do You Go When Judges Break the Law?": $16,660 public interest ad, New York Times, 10/26/94,Op-Ed page; reprinted at a further cost of $2,280 in New York Law Journal, 11/1/94, p. 9
 

"Commission Abandons Investigative Mandate", letter to the editor, New York Law Journal, 8/14/95

"A Call for Concerted Action", $1,648.36, public interest ad, New York Law Journal, p. 3

"Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom' and on the Public Payroll", $3,077.22 public interest ad, New York Law Journal, pp. 3-4

"Judicial Reforms", letter to the editor, Daily News, December 7, 2001

"To the Gulag: Courthouse Leper George Sassower Takes on Every Judge in Town", Village Voice, article, June 6, 1989
 

IV.  CJA's COMPLAINT TO 1ST DEPT ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

CJA's November 14, 2000 complaint to First Department Disciplinary Committee -- ATT: Thomas J. Cahill/Chief Counsel -- "Verified Complaint of Professional Misconduct against the Association of the Bar of the City of New York; the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York; the New York State Trial Lawyers Association; and the New York State Bar Association and the Culpable Lawyers Acting on Their Behalf"

     CJA's November 13, 2000 letter to Association of the Bar of the City of New York

      CJA's November 13, 2000 letter to New York State Bar Association.

      CJA's November 13, 2000 letter to New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

      CJA's November 13, 2000 letter to Women's Bar Association of the State of New York.

CJA's NOVEMBER 13, 2000 REPORT ON THE COMPLICITY OF THE BAR ASSOCIATIONS IN THE CORRUPTION OF "MERIT SELECTION"
      Ex A-1: City Bar President Evan Davis' 10/18/00 letter to Governor Pataki,
                 with 10/18/00 press release
       Ex A-2: 10/19/00 front-page item, NYLJ
       Ext A-3:  CJA's 10/16/00 fax coversheet to City Bar Counsel
       Ex A-4: CJA's 10/19/00 fax to City Bar Counsel
       Ex A-5:  10/19/00 fax from City Bar Counsel
       Ex A-6:  10/25/00 fax coversheet from City Bar Counsel, enclosing member rosters
       Ex A-7:  11/17/98 fax from City Bar Counsel with Executive Committee membership
       Ex B-1: State Bar President's 10/24/00 letter to Gov. Pataki
               with "Guidelines for Evaluating Qualifications of Judicial Candidates"
       Ex B-2: State Bar's 10/24/00 "News Release"

       Ex B-3: 10/25/00 NYLJ front page item on State Bar's ratings
       Ex B-4: CJA's 10/25/00 fax to State Bar counsel
       Ex B-5: State Bar membership list of its Executive Judicial Selection Committees
       Ex B-6: State Bar President's 11/2/00 letter to NYS Senate Judiciary Committee
       Ex C-1: Women's Bar Association's 10/20/00 "Media Advisory"
       Ex C-2: 10/23/00 NYLJ front-page item on Women's Bar ratings
       Ex C-3: CJA's 10/23/00 letter to Women's Bar
       Ex C-4: website of Women's Bar listing its officers & past presidents
       Ex D-1: 10/20/00 letter from Pres/NYS Trial Lawyers to Gov. Pataki's counsel
       Ex D-2: Trial Lawyers' October 20, 2000 "News Release"
       Ex D-3: 10/24/00 NYLJ front-page item on Trial Lawyers' ratings
       Ex D-4: CJA's 10/24/00 letter-fax to Trial Lawyers
       Ex E: "Court of Appeals Nominees Grilled by Bar Groups",
                      10/17/00 front-page article, NYLJ
       Ex F-1: Gov Pataki's 11/2/00 press release: "Governor Pataki Nominates Graffeo to
                          Court of Appeals"
       Ex F-2: "Pataki Selects Judge for Appeals Court He Sees as Lenient", NYT, 11/3/00
       Ex F-3: "Pataki Names Graffeo to Court of Appeals", NYLJ, 11/3/00
       Ex G: CJA's 6/20/00 letter to Cit Bar President Evan Davis
       Ex H-1: CJA's 9/18/00 letter to Guy Miller Struve & P. Kevin Castel
       Ex H-2: 11/3/00 front-page item/NYLJ
       Ex I-1: CJA's 11/19/98 letter to Chairman/NYS Bar's Judicial Selection Committee
       Ex I-2: CJA's 1/4/99 letter to State Bar President
       Ex I-3: CJA's 2/17/99 letter to State Bar President
       Ex I-4: February 18, 1999 letter from Counsel/NYS Bar
       Ex J-1: "Where Do You Go When Judges Break the Law?"
       Ex J-2: 6/1/95 letter to Chairman/State Bar Committee on Professional Discipline
       Ex J-3: 6/5/95 letter from Counsel/NYS Bar
       Ex K: CJA's 11/19/98 letter to Co-Chair/Women's Bar Judiciary Committee/
                        with fax coversheets to her & her Co-Chair, and Women's Bar President
 

CJA's OCTOBER 16, 2000 REPORT ON THE CORRUPTION OF "MERIT SELECTION" BY THE NYS COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL NOMINATION

     Ex A-1: "An Appeal to Fairness: Revisit the Court of Appeals",
                          CJA's letter to the editor, NYPost, 12/28/98
      Ex A-2: CJA's 3/26/99 ethics complaint to the NYS Ethics Commission
      Ex B:  CJA's 9/15/99 ethics complaint/supplement to the NYS Ethics Commission
      Ex C-1: CJA's 10/16/00 letter to NYS Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex C-2: Commission on Judicial Nomination's 10/4/000 report of recommendees
      Ex D-1:  CJA's 10/11/00 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex D-2:  CJA's 10/11/00 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex D-3:  10/13/00 letter from Counsel/Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex E-1: 2/24/00 letter from Counsel/Commission on Judicial Nomination,
                         enclosing Commission's 11/12/98 report of recommendees

      Ex E-2:  CJA's 3/12/99 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex F:  CJA's 2/5/99 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
          Ex A-1:  11/25/98 letter from Counsel/Commission on Judicial Nomination
          Ex. A-2: CJA's 12/1/98 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
          Ex. B:  CJA's 12/16/98 letter to Senior Counsel/NYS Senate Judiciary Committee
          Ex. C:  "An Appeal to Fairness: Revisit the Court of Appeals", NY Post, 12/28/98
          Ex. D:  CJA's 1/13/99 letter to NYS Senate Judiciary Committee/Clerk
      Ex G-1: 4/26/99 letter of Exec.Director/NYS Committee on Open Government
      Ex G-2: CJA's 5/3/99 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
      Ex H: CJA's 10/5/98 letter to Commission on Judicial Nomination
          Ex. A: NYLJ notices, 9/15/98, 9/21/98
          Ex. B-1: Commission on Judicial Nomination brochure
          Ex. B-2-5: Commission on Judicial Nomination questionnaire
          Ex. C: "Where Do You Go When Judges Break the Law?",
                    CJA's $16,770 ad, NYT, 10/26/94 
          Ex. D: "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom and on the Public Payroll",
                    CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
          Ex. E-1: "Commission Abandons Investigative Mandate", NYLJ, 8/14/95
          Ex. E-2: "A Call for Concerted Action", CJA's $1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/96
          Ex. F:  "On Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems",
                     CJA's letter to editor, NYT, 11/16/96
      Ex I: CJA's 10/18/98 letter to Exec. Committee/City Bar
      Ex J-1:  "On Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems",
                  letter to the editor, NYT, 11/16/96
      Ex J-2: CJA's 6/12/96 letter to Counsel to Governor Pataki
      Ex J-3: CJA's 6/11/96 letter to NYS Senate
                Ex.  A: CJA's April 18, 1996 letter to Counsel/Senate Judiciary Committee
                Ex. D: "Commission Abandons Investigative Mandate", NYLJ, 8/14/95
                Ex. F:  CJA's 3-page analysis of decision in Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
                Ex. B:  CJA's 4/29/96 letter to Counsel to Governor Pataki 
      Ex K:  NYS Assembly Bill: 2/23/83 

INVENTORY OF FILE FOLDER A:  documents pertaining to the Commission on Judicial Nomination's recommendation of Stephen Crane as "well qualified" for appointment to the NY Court of Appeals

INVENTORY OF FILE FOLDER B:  documents pertaining to the Commission on Judicial Nomination's recommendation of Juanita Bing Newton as "well qualified" for appointment to the NY Court of Appeals

Chief Counsel Cahill's December 11, 2000 letter

CJA's  February 26, 2001 letter to First Department Disciplinary Committee (ATT: Chief Counsel Cahill) -- "CJA's November 14, 2000 complaint docketed as #2000.3089: Association of the Bar of the City of New York; #2000-2090: Women's Bar Association of the State of New York; #2000-3091: New York State Trial Lawyers Association; #2000.3157: New York State Bar Association"

CJA's March 7, 2001 letter First Department Disciplinary Committee (ATT: Chief Counsel Cahill) -- "CJA's November 14, 2000 complaint docketed as #2000.3089: Association of the Bar of the City of New York; #2000-2090: Women's Bar Association of the State of New York; #2000-3091: New York State Trial Lawyers Association; #2000.3157: New York State Bar Association" 

First Department Disciplinary Committee's March 21, 2001 letter, signed by First Deputy Chief Counsel Sarah Jo Hamilton

First Department Disciplinary Committee's April 3, 2001 letter, signed by Special Counsel Martin R. Gold

V.  ILLUSTRATIVE OUTREACH TO BAR ASSOCIATIONS, FUND FOR MODERN COURTS, & TAXPAYER-SUPPORTED ENTITIES OF THE COURT SYSTEM:

CJA's comment & questions at New York State Bar Association-Fund for Modern Courts' December 11, 2002 Forum on "Judging the Judges: NY State Commission on Judicial Conduct"

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)

Fund for Modern Courts

INSTITUTE ON PROFESSIONALISM IN THE LAW

(1) website info;

(2) Chief Judge Kaye’s March 3, 1999 administrative order;

CJA's March 7, 2001 letter to Chairman Louis Craco -- "Holding the Bar Associations and Their Culpable Lawyers to Account for their Complicitous Role in the Corruption of 'Merit Selection' to the New York Court of Appeals"   (indicated copies to Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System & First Dept. Disciplinary Committee)

March 21, 2001 letter from Institute Counsel Antonio Galvao

CJA's December 22, 2003 letter to Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Counsel -- "Being True to the March 3, 1999 Administrative Order that Created the Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law"  (indicated copy to John Eiseman, OCA Records Access Officer)
             January 8, 2004 transmittal letter to John Eiseman -- "Requests for Documents Relating to: (1) Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System; and (2) Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law"

COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE TRUST & CONFIDENCE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM

CJA's March 2, 2001 letter to Counsel Patricia Bucklin -- "Placing CJA's November 13, 2000 Report on the Agenda of The Upcoming Meeting of the Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System"

CJA's March 7, 2001 letter to Counsel Bucklin

May 9, 2001 letter from Committee Co-Chair Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Frazee

CJA's December 22, 2003 letter to Counsel Wendy Deer -- "The 'Viability' of the Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System -- and the empirical evidentiary basis for its implied claim in its May 1999 report (at p. 33) that 'errant attorneys and judges are accountable"
  (indicated copy to John Eiseman, OCA Records Access Officer)
          January 8, 2004 transmittal letter to John Eiseman -- "Requests for Documents Relating to: (1) Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System; and (2) Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law"