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APPOINTMENTS TO NEW YORK'S LOWER
STATE COURTS
CHRONOLOGICAL PAPER TRAIL OF INTERACTION
WITH THE PROCESS OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
TO NEW YORK STATE'S LOWER COURTS --
& ITS INTERFACE WITH THE
CORRUPTION OF
THE NYS COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT, etc.
(correspondence marked with * involves
Commission on Judicial Conduct)
[NOTE: background of interaction with NYS Senate Judiciary Committee:
"Merit
Selection" Appointment of Levine to NY Court of Appeals - September 1993
"Merit
Selection" Appointment of Ciparick to NY Court of Appeals - December 1993]
1995
correspondence relating
to NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct
SEE:
Correspondence with NYS Ethics Commission from March 22,
1995 onwards
1996
CJA's January 10, 1996 letter to Susan
Meier/Legislative Asst./Governor Pataki
[O'Rourke]
CJA's refaxing of
January 10, 1996 letter on January 16, 1996 (Linda DiBernardo); January 29, 1996 (Priscella Aboudreau); and
February 12, 1996 (Kathleen Sandvidge)
[O'Rourke]
*CJA's March 29, 1996 letter to
Michael Finnegan, Counsel/Governor Pataki
*CJA's April 18, 1996 letter to David
Gruenberg, Counsel/Senate Judiciary Committee -- "RE: Opposition to
Senate Confirmation of Judge Newton, Member, New York State Commission on
Judicial Conduct"
[Newton]
(indicated copies to Finnegan, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, Juanita
Bing Newton, Assembly Judiciary Committee, NY
Observer, NYT, NYLJ, NYPost)
Ex. A: NYLJ item, 4/11/96
Ex B: CJA's repeatedly refaxed January 10, 1996 fax & CJA's March 29, 1996 ltr
Ex. C: "Pataki's Secrets", op-ed by Andrea Bernstein, NYT, 3/23/96
Ex. D: "Comm'n Abandons Investigative Mandate", ltr to editor, NYLJ,
8/14/95
Ex. E: "State politicians to scrutinize judicial-conduct panel", NYPost,
3/1/96
Ex. F: CJA's analysis of fraudulent decision in Doris L. Sassower v.
Commission
*CJA's April
24, 1996 letter to
Michael Finnegan, Counsel/Governor Pataki
[Newton]
*CJA's April 24, 1996 letter to Martha McHugh, Director of Scheduling/Governor Pataki
*CJA's April 29, 1996 letter to
Michael Finnegan, Counsel/Governor Pataki [Newton]
(indicated copies to Senate Judiciary Committee, City Bar, Fund for
Modern Courts, NY media)
Ex. A: CJA's repeatedly refaxed January 10, 1996 fax
Ex. B: CJA's March 29, 1996 & April 24, 1996 ltrs to Mr. Finnegan
Ex. C: NYLJ item, 6/29/95
Ex. D: CJA's April 18, 1996 ltr to David Gruenberg
Ex. E: Executive Order #10: Judicial Screening Committees
Ex. F: Executive Order #11: Temporary Judicial Screening Committee
*CJA's
May 6, 1996 letter to James McGuire, First Asst. Counsel/Governor Pataki
-- transmittal to the Governor a copy of
the record
of Doris L. Sassower v. Commission
*CJA's May 7, 1996 note to
David Gruenberg, Counsel/Senate Judiciary Committee
CJA's June 6, 1996 letter to
David Gruenberg, Counsel/Senate Judiciary Committee
[Newton]
*CJA's June 11, 1996 letter to
NYS Senators -- "RE: Opposition to Senate Confirmation of Governor
Pataki's Judicial Nominees and, in particular, to Judge Juanita Bing Newton"
[Newton]
Ex. A: CJA's April 18, 1996 ltr
to David Gruenberg
Ex. B: CJA's April 29, 1996 ltr
to Michael Finnegan
CJA's June 12, 1996 letter to
Michael Finnegan, Counsel/Governor Pataki [Newton]
(indicated copies to Senate Judiciary Committee, Juanita Bing Newton,
Commission on Judicial Conduct, Assembly
Judiciary Committee)
1997
CJA's
March 7, 1997 letter to Michael Cardozo, President/Association of the Bar of the City
of New York-- "RE: Supplement to the City Bar's February 7, 1997 Report"
(indicated copies to Gov. Pataki, Chief Judge Kaye,
various City Bar Committee Chairman & members, bar associations,NYT, NYLJ)
Ex. A-1: "On Choosing
Judges, Pataki Creates Problems", CJA's ltr to editor, NYT, 11/16/96
Ex. A-2: "A Call for
Concerted Action", CJA's $1,648 paid ad, NYLJ, 11/20/96
Ex. B: CJA's June 11, 1996 ltr to NYS Senators
Ex. C: CJA's June 12, 1996 ltr to Michael Finnegan
Ex. D: City Bar program, "How to Become a Judge", 12/7/96
Ex. E-1: NYLJ item,
3/4/97
Ex. E-2: "Pataki Names
Panels For Judicial Screening", NYLJ, 3/6/97
Ex. F: CJA's February 10, 1997 ltr to Alan Rothstein, City Bar Counsel
Ex. G: CJA's August 22, 1995 ltr to John Feerick, Chairman/Fund for Modern Courts
Ex. H: CJA's May 6, 1996 ltr to James McGuire
Ex. I-1: "Lawyers'
Attacks on Judges Risk Censure", by Cardozo, National Law Journal, 8/26/96
Ex. I-2: City Bar
program, "POLITICIANS ON JUDGES: Fair Criticism or Intimidation?", 10/7/96
CJA's April 15, 1997 letter to
Governor Pataki
[SEE
Correspondence: NYS
Ethics Commission]
(indicated copies to 4 unchaired volunteer members of the NYS Ethics
Commission, Richard Rifkin, its Executive Director, & NY media)
-- enclosing
"On
Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems", CJA's ltr to the editor, NYT,
11/16/96
"A Call
for Concerted Action", CJA's $1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/96
CJA's
June 2, 1997 letter to Governor Pataki -- "RE: The public's right to
basic information and your unworthy appointment of Justice Nicholas
Colabella to the Appellate Division, First Department"
[Colabella]
[FOIL, etc]
(indicated copies to all members of Gov's judicial screening
committees, NY bar associations, Fund for Modern
Courts, Common Cause, NYPIRG,
Citizens Union, Gannett, NYLJ, NYT)
Ex. A-1: Gov's press
release announcing members of state judicial screening committee & 3 jud.
appointments
Ex. A-2: "Colabella to
Appellate Division", NYLJ, 5/15/97
Ex. B: Executive Order #11: Temporary Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. C: Executive Order #10: Judicial Screening Committees
Ex. D: "On Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems", CJA's ltr to
editor, NYT, 11/16/96
Ex. E: "Pataki Names Panels for Judicial Screening", NYLJ, 3/6/97
Ex. F: Gov's classified ads of judicial vacancies
Ex. G: City Bar's Uniform Judicial Questionnaire
Ex. H: 3/24/92 front-page correction in NYLJ, with Doris Sassower's letter
to the editor
Ex. I-1: "Where Do You
Go When Judges Break the Law?", CJA's $16,770 op-ed ad, NYT, 10/26/94
Ex. I-2: Doris
Sassower's Director's Biography
Ex J-1: "Appellate
Selection Process Stirs Concern", NYLJ, 12/10/96
Ex. J-2: 12/16/96 item,
NYLJ
Ex. K: NY Judge Reviews (1997-8 edition)
CJA's June 12, 1997 memo to
indicated recipients of CJA's June 2, 1997 letter to Governor Pataki
-- "RE: Ensuring the public's right to basic information about the
Governor's judicial appointments process and protecting it from unfit appointees
[Colabella]
(indicated copy to Governor Pataki)
CJA's June 16, 1997 letter
to James Gill, Chairman/Gov. Pataki's First Dept. Judicial Screening Committee
[elevation to A.D.]
CJA's June 20, 1997 letter
to James Gill, Chairman/Gov. Pataki's First Dept. Judicial Screening Committee
[elevation to A.D.]
CJA's July 25, 1997 letter
to James Gill, Chairman/Gov. Pataki's First Dept. Judicial Screening Committee
-- "RE: 'Judicial Screening'"
[elevation to
A.D.]
CJA's five
July 29, 1997 - July 30, 1997 faxes to Asst. Counsel/Gov Pataki's 1st Dept.
Judicial Screening Committee --
"RE: On-the-Bench Judicial
Misconduct: Cahn/Crane" [elevation
to A.D.]
CJA's December 12, 1997 letter to
Nan Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees --
"RE: Informational Requests and Notice of Opposition to the Potential Judicial
Candidacies of Albert M. Rosenblatt and Andrew O'Rourke"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to 1st & 2nd Dept. Jud Screening Committees-ATT
Chairmen Gill, Plunkett, State Judicial Screening Committee-AT Chairman
Shechtman, NYLJ)
Ex. A: NYLJ items,
12/11/97 & 12/2/97
Ex. B: CJA's June 2, 1997 ltr
to Governor Pataki
Ex. C: CJA's repeatedly
resent & unresponded-to 1/10/96 ltr
Ex. D: CJA's December 3,
1997 fax
coversheet to Nan Weiner
CJA's December 15,
1997
letter to Paul Shechtman, Chairman/Governor Pataki's State Judicial Screening
Committee --
"RE: Public's Right to Information about your Appointment by Governor
Pataki as Chairman of his State Judicial Screening Committee and as a
Commissioner of the New York State Ethics Commission"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Weiner, Gov Pataki-ATT Thomas Dougherty, Appts.
Secretary, NYS Ethics Commission, NYLJ,
Gannett)
Ex. A: CJA's June 9, 1997 ltr
to NYS Ethics Commission
Ex. B: CJA's April 15, 1997 ltr
to Governor Pataki
Ex. C: CJA's April 11, 1997 ltr
to Reverend Robert Eggenschiller, member/NYS Ethics Commission
Ex. D: "Restraining
'Liars in the Courtroom' and on the Public Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ,
8/27/97
Ex. E: "O'Rourke
nominated for state judgeship", Gannett, 12/13/97
Ex. F: CJA's June 12, 1997 memo
to recipients of CJA's 6/2/97 ltr to Governor Pataki
Ex. G: CJA's June 10, 1997 ltr
to Mr. Shechtman
Ex. H: CJA's
June 16, 1997 & June 20, 1997 ltrs to Mr. Shechtman
CJA's December 23, 1997 letter to
James McGuire, Counsel/Governor Pataki -- "RE: The Public's Right
to Basic Information about the Governor's Judicial Selection Process and to
Withdrawal of the Governor's Unworthy Nomination of Andrew O'Rourke to the Court
of Claims -- Immediate Attention Required"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to State Judicial Screening Committee, Exec Director
Weiner, SJC Chairman Lack, City Bar President
Cardozo, ABA President Shestack, NYSBA President Pruzansky, Media)
Ex. A:
CJA's June 2, 1997 ltr to Governor Pataki
Ex. B: CJA's December 3, 1997 fax coversheet to Nan Weiner
Ex. C: CJA's December 12, 1997 ltr to Nan Weiner
Ex. D: CJA's
December 15, 1997 ltr to Paul Shechtman
Ex.
E: CJA's December 15, 1997 fax coversheet to Nan Weiner
Ex.
F: NYLJ, ad, 11/26/97
Ex. G-1:
"O'Rourke not qualified to serve as judge", ltr to editor by Eli
Vigliano, Esq., Gannett, 12/3/97
Ex. G-2:
"O'Rourke could be wearing judge's robes in January", Gannett, 12/22/97
CJA's December 26, 1997 letter
to Andrew O'Rourke -- "RE: The Public's right to
substantiation of the 'highly qualified rating conferred by the State Judicial
Screening Committee for your appointment to the Court of Claims"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to McGuire, Weiner, Members-State Judicial Screening
Committee, Lack, Cardozo, Shestack, Pruzansky, Gannett, media)
-- enclosing:
NJC's November 2, 1992 ltr to
reporter Ed Tagliaferri, Gannett
"O'Rourke
not qualified to serve as judge", ltr to editor, Gannett, 12/3/97
"Untrustworthy
Ratings?", ltr to editor, NYT, 7/17/92
"O'Rourke
could be wearing judge's robes in January", Gannett, 12/22/97
SEE: CJA's correspondence with
bar associations:
Association of the Bar
of the City of New York
New York State Bar Association
American
Bar Association
CJA's
December 29, 1997 memo to Members of Governor Pataki's State Judicial Screening Committee
--
"RE: Reconsideration and Retraction of Andrew O'Rourke's 'Highly Qualified'
Rating"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to McGuire, Shechtman, Weiner, Chief Judge Kaye,
Cardozo, Shestack, Pruzansky, Media)
---- transmitting to each member a copy of
NJC's May 1, 1992 critique &
compendium of exhibits
CJA's December 31, 1997 letter
to Paul Shechtman -- "RE: MEMBERS' MAILING ADDRESSES"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copy to Weiner)
1998
CJA's
January 2, 1998
letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to McGuire, Weiner, Shechtman, Secretary of the
Senate, media)
Ex A: "O'Rourke could be wearing judge's
robes in January", Gannett, 12/22/97
Ex. B: CJA's December 22, 1993 ltr to Senate Judiciary Committee counsel
Ex. C: CJA's December 18, 1997 ltr to Secretary of the Senate
CJA's
January 7, 1998 letter to Chief Judge Judith Kaye -- "RE:
Safeguarding the Public's Rights and Interest in the State Judicial Appointments
Process"
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to McGuire, Shechtman, Gill, Clair Gutekunst
(member 1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee & State Committee), Weiner,
Senate Judiciary Committee, Cardozo, Pruzansky, Shestack, Gary Brown
(Executive Director/Fund for Modern Courts), media)
Ex. A: "On Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems", ltr to
editor, NYT, 11/16/96
Ex. B-1: CJA's July
25, 1997 ltr to James Gill,
Chairman/1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. B-2-6:
follow-up faxes to 1st Dept. Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. C-1: "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom' and on the Public
Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
Ex. C-2: NYLJ item, 9/22/97
Ex. D: NYLJ item, 12/26/97
Ex. E: receipted first page of CJA's
December 29, 1997
memo to members of State Judicial Screening Committee
----
transmitting to Chief Judge Kaye a
copy of
NJC's May 1, 1992 critique & compendium of exhibits
CJA's January 9, 1998 letter to Senate
Judiciary Committee [O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Kaye, McGuire, Weiner,
Shechtman, Cardozo, Pruzansky, Shestack, Brown, media)
CJA's
January 13, 1998
notice to Senators "WHY YOU MUST VOTE AGAINST SENATE
CONFIRMATION OF ANDREW O'ROURKE TO A $113,000 COURT OF CLAIMS JUDGESHIP"
(hand-delivered to virtually every Senator's office)
[O'Rourke]
CJA's January 13,1998
handwritten note to Chief Judge Kaye, delivered to her at the Clerk's office of
the NY Court of Appeals
[O'Rourke]
CJA's January 27, 1998 letter to John Eiseman, Deputy Counsel/Office of Court
Administration [O'Rourke]
CJA's January 30, 1998 letter to
John Eiseman, Deputy Counsel/Office of Court Administration
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Lippman, Kaye, Cardozo, Pruzansky, Blair
Horner/Legislative Director-NYPIRG,
Rachel Leon/Executive Director-Common Cause, media)
Ex. A: CJA's January
27, 1998 letter
to Eiseman
Ex. B: Gov. Pataki's
press release nominating O'Rourke to Court of Claims
Ex. C: Retirement &
Social Security Law, Sec. 211
Ex. D: January 27, 1998 letter of
Senators Franz Leichter & Richard Dollinger to Chief Administrative Judge
Lippman
Ex. E-1: "O'Rourke
gets OK to collect pension while serving as judge", Gannett, 1/28/98
Ex. E-2: "Ex-County
Chief's Deal On Pension Is Questioned", NYT, 1/29/98
Ex. E-3: "O'Rourke
confirmed as judge", Gannett, 1/14/98
CJA's January 30, 1998 letter to
Chief Administrative Judge Robert Lippman/Office of Court Administration
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to OCA Counsel Michael Colodner, Kaye, Dollinger,
Leichter, Cardozo, Pruzansky, Horner, Leon, media)
CJA's January 30, 1998 letter to
Deputy Counsel John Eiseman
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Lippman, Colodner, Kaye, Dollinger, Leichter,
Cardozo, Pruzansky, Horner, Leon, media)
CJA's January 30, 1998 letter to
Chief Administrative Judge Lippman
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Colodner, Kaye, Dollinger, Leichter, Cardozo,
Pruzansky, Horner, Leon, media)
CJA's February 1,1998 letter to Chief
Judge Kaye
[O'Rourke]
(indicated copy to Lippman)
February 5, 1998 letter from Ann
Pfau, Deputy Chief Administrator
[O'Rourke]
CJA's February 6, 1998 memo to
Senators Dollinger & Leichter [O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Lippman, Kaye, Cardozo, Pruzansky, Horner,
Leon, NYS Committee on Open Government, media)
CJA's February 9, 1998 letter to
Chief Administrative Judge Lippman [O'Rourke]
(indicated copies to Kaye, Dollinger, Leichter, Cardozo,
Pruzansky, Horner, Leon, media)
Deputy Chief
Administrator Ann Pfau's February 19, 1998 letter [O'Rourke]
CJA's February
26, 1998
memo to Senators Leichter & Dollinger
[O'Rourke]
CJA's August 19, 1998 letter to Nan
Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
-- "RE: Adverse Information Relative to Judicial Candidacies"
[Rudolph]
(indicated copies to James Gill/Chairman-Gov. Pataki's 1st
Dept Judicial Screening Committee & Kevin Plunkett/Chairman- Gov Pataki's 2nd
Dept. Judicial Screening Committee)
[NOTE:
October-December 1998: "Merit Selection" Appointment of Rosenblatt to NY
Court of Appeals]
1999
CJA's
March 30, 1999 letter to Rosario Vizzie, Governor Pataki's Records
Access Officer (Assistant Counsel)
[FOIL, etc]
Ex. A: CJA's March 12, 1999 ltr to the State Commission on
Judicial Nomination
Ex. B: CJA's February 5, 1999 ltr to the State Commission on
Judicial Nomination
Ex. C: CJA's
June 2, 1997 ltr to Governor Pataki
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's April 7, 1999 letter
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's May 6, 1999 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's December 2, 1999 letter to Gov. Pataki -- Att: James McGuire/Counsel
--
"RE: (1) Request, pursuant to Executive Order #11, 2(c) and #10, 2(d) and
FOIL for the judicial screening committee reports of the qualifications of Court
of Claims Judge William Wetzel and ALL the Governor's other judicial appointees
(pp. 1-2); (2) Information as to why Judge Wetzel is being maintained as a 'hold
over', as well as the number and identities of other Court of Claims judges who
are also being maintained as 'hold overs' (p. 3)"
[Wetzel]
[FOIL,
etc]
2000
*CJA's
February 7, 2000 letter to Nan
Weiner/Executive Director/Gov. Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
[Wetzel] [Crane]
(indicated copies to Governor, Manhattan D.A., U.S.
Attorneys/SDNY-EDNY, Ethics Commission, Wetzel, Crane)
CJA's February 9, 2000 letter to Nan
Weiner/Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
[Rudolph]
*CJA's February 23, 2000 letter to
Governor Pataki ATT: Nan Weiner
-- "RE: Opposition to Court of Claims Judge William A. Wetzel and Supreme
Court Justice Stephen G. Crane"
[Wetzel] [Crane]
(indicated copies to Wetzel, Crane, Kaye, Commission on Judicial
Conduct, Spitzer, Manhattan D.A., U.S. Attorneys-
SDNY/EDNY, Ethics Commission, City Bar, Patricia Salkin --
Government Law Ctr/Albany Law School, Bertram Gelfand,
media)
Ex. A: CJA's
February 7, 2000 ltr to Nan Weiner
Ex. B-1: "Comm'n Abandons Investigative Mandate",
CJA's ltr to editor, NYLJ, 8/14/95
Ex. B-2: "A Call for Concerted Action", CJA's
$1,648 ad, NYLJ, 11/20/97
Ex. B-3: "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom and on
the Public Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
Ex. C: computerized court record of Elena Ruth
Sassower v. Commission and recusal orders of 5 justices
Ex. D: statement of former Bronx Surrogate Bertram
Gelfand at the City Bar's public hearing on the Commission
Ex. E: CJA's
January 7, 1998 ltr to Chief Judge Kaye
Ex. A: "On Choosing Judges, Pataki Creates Problems", ltr to
editor, NYT, 11/16/96
Ex. B-1: CJA's July 25,
1997 ltr to James Gill,
Chairman/1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. B-2-6:
follow-up faxes to 1st Dept. Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. C-1: "Restraining 'Liars in the Courtroom' and on the Public
Payroll", CJA's $3,077 ad, NYLJ, 8/27/97
Ex. C-2: NYLJ item, 9/22/97
Ex. D: NYLJ item, 12/26/97
Ex. E: receipted 1st page of CJA's
December 29, 1997
memo to members of State Judicial Screening Committee
Ex. F: pp. 5-13 of the transcript of the
May 17, 1999
proceeding before Justice Lebedeff
Ex. G: pp. 8-17, 22-23 of the transcript of the
June 14, 1999
court conference before Justice Zweibel
Ex. H: transcript of the 10/8/99 proceeding
before Justice Zweibel
Ex. I: "Pols Rule Courtrooms: Acting Judges
Owe Their Jobs to Pataki, Rudy", NYDaily News, 1/18/00
Ex. J: Kamau Bey's 5/27/99, 6/25/99, and 7/23/99
judicial misconduct complaints against Justice Wetzel &
Commission acknowledgment & dismissal letters
Ex. K: "Observers Say Judge Doomed Defense", NY
Post, 4/17/98, "Wacko Wetzel Left Oliver's Lawyer Defenseless",
NYPost 5/30/98, "Cybersex Defense Wants Trial Halted", NY Daily News,
3/24/98, "Defense in Sexual Torture
Case Says Court Let the Accuser Lie", NYT, 3/24/98, "Oliver Jovanovic:
First Sacrifice of the Digital Age", La
Journada, 5/19/98
-- transmitting to the Governor a copy of the
record in Supreme Court/NY
County of Elena Ruth Sassower v. Commission
-- including its
physically incorporated
record in
Supreme Court/NY County of Michael
Mantell v. Commission
*CJA's
February 24, 2000 letter to Nan Weiner, Executive
Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees -- "RE:
Confirmation of Mailing & Informational Requests"
[Wetzel]
[Crane]
*CJA's March 7, 2000 letter to Nan
Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
-- "RE: Official Misconduct of Court of Claims Judge William A. Wetzel and
Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Crane in the public interest Article 78
proceeding, Elena Ruth Sassower, Coordinator of the Center for Judicial
Accountability, Inc., acting pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct
of the State of New York"
[Wetzel]
[Crane]
enclosing copies of:
CJA's February 25, 2000 memo to
A.G., Manhattan D.A., U.S. Attorney-SDNY, Ethics Commission
CJA's March 3, 2000 ltr to Chief Judge Kaye
CJA's March 3, 2000
complaint against Judges Wetzel and Crane to Commission on Judicial Conduct
[NOTE: October - November 2000: "Merit
Selection" Appointment of Graffeo to NY Court of Appeals]
2001
CJA's
March 30, 2001 letter to Assistant Counsel Rosario Vizzie --
"RE: (1)
CJA's Outstanding March 30, 1999 F.O.I.L. Request; (2) Supplement to CJA's March
30, 1999 F.O.I.L. Request" [FOIL,
etc]
(indicated copy to Committee on Open Government)
CJA's
March 30, 2001 letter to Nan Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial
Screening Committees
--
"RE: Requests for (1) information as to the
screening process relating to the designation of Supreme Court Justice Stephen
G. Crane to the Appellate Division, Second Department; (2) access to the
judicial screening committee report of Justice Crane's qualifications, as well
as to the judicial screening committee reports of the qualifications of all the
Governor's other judicial appointments/designees; (3) a copy of blank
questionnnaire forms which the judicial screening committees require candidates
to complete; (4) a copy of the judicial screening committees' most recent
'Uniform Rules'; (5) information as to the newly-created 'Federal Appointments
Screening Committee', including its membership, rules and procedures,
questionnaire forms, and telephone numbers"
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's April 5, 2001 letter [FOIL,
etc.]
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's May 4, 2001
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's May 17, 2001 letter
[FOIL, etc.]
CJA's June 4, 2001 letter to
Assistant Counsel Vizzie -- "RE: Your May 17, 2001 Letter"
[FOIL, etc.]
Assistant Counsel
Vizzie's June 11, 2001 letter
[FOIL, etc.]
CJA's June 17, 2001 letter to
Chairman Lack/Senate Judiciary Committee --
"RE: Opposition to Senate Confirmation of Judge William A. Wetzel for
Reappointment to the Court of Claims, based on documentary evidence of his
judicial misconduct in the public interest lawsuit, Elena Ruth Sassower,
Coordinator of the Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc., acting pro bono
publico against Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New York
(S.Ct./NY Co. #99-108551) -- and Request to Testify in Opposition at the Senate
Confirmation Hearing, based on Direct, First-Hand Experience"
[Wetzel]
(indicated copies to Gov. Pataki, Weiner, Shechtman, Spitzer,
City Bar President Davis, State Bar President Krane, Fund for Modern Courts)
Ex. A: Gov Pataki's press
release announcing Wetzel's nomination & NYLJ item, 6/15/01
Ex. B: CJA's November 13,
2000 ltr
to Chairman Lack
Ex. C-1: CJA's February
24, 2000
ltr to Gov. Pataki -- ATT: Nan Weiner
Ex. C-2: CJA's March 7,
2000
ltr to Gov. Pataki -- ATT: Nan Weiner
Ex. C-3: CJA's March 17,
2000
memo -- sent to Gov. Pataki -- ATT: James McGuire
Ex. C-4: CJA's April 24,
2000
memo -- sent to Gov. Pataki -- ATT: James McGuire
Ex. C-5: CJA's October
24, 2000
ltr to Gov. Pataki -- ATT: James McGuire
Ex. D: CJA's March
27, 2001
ltr to Ethics Commission
Ex. E-1: CJA's March 30,
2001
ltr to Nan Weiner
Ex. E-2: Gov. Pataki's
March 15, 2001 press announcement on App. Div. designations
Ex. F-1: CJA's March 30,
2001
ltr to Gov Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-2: April 5, 2001 ltr of
Gov. Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-3: May 4, 2001 ltr of
Gov Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-4: May 17, 2001 ltr of
Gov. Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-5: CJA's June 4,
2001
ltr to Gov. Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-6: June 11, 2001 ltr of
Gov. Pataki's records access officer
Ex. F-7: December 15,
1999
"Appointment Report" of 2nd Dept. Judicial Screening Committee for Justice Crane
-- transmitting to Senate Judiciary Committee
appellate papers in
Elena
Ruth Sassower v. Commission
CJA's June 18, 2001 letter to Nan
Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
-- "RE: Governor Pataki's Reappointment of Judge William A. Wetzel to the
Court of Claims, Scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on
Wednesday, June 20, 2001"
[Wetzel]
(indicated copy to Senate Judiciary Committee)
CJA's June 18, 2001 letter to
Paul Shechtman, Chairman/Governor Pataki's State Judicial Screening Committee
-- "RE: Governor Pataki's Reappointment of Judge William A. Wetzel to the
Court of Claims, Scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing
on Wednesday, June 20, 2001"
[Wetzel]
CJA's June 18, 2001 letter to
Attorney General Spitzer --
"RE: Governor Pataki's Reappointment of Judge William A. Wetzel to the Court
of Claims, Scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing at
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001"
[Wetzel]
(indicated copies to Senate Judiciary Committee, Solicitor Genera
Preeta Bansal)
CJA's June 18,
2001
letter to NYS Bar Association President Steven Krane, City Bar President Evan
Davis, and Steven Zeidman, Executive Director/Fund for Modern Courts --
"RE: Governor Pataki's Reappointment of Judge William A. Wetzel to the Court
of Claims, Scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing at
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001"
[Wetzel]
[
CJA's June 19, 2001 letter to Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lack --
"RE: CJA's unresponded-to June 17, 2001 letter to the Senate
Judiciary Committee, opposing Senate confirmation of Court of Claims Judge
William A. Wetzel and requesting to testify in opposition at the Committee's
June 20, 2001 confirmation hearing"
[Wetzel]
CJA's June 21, 2001 ltr to Senate
Judiciary Committee --
"RE: Request for Documents & Information"
[Wetzel]
CJA's June 21, 2001 letter to Nan
Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees --
"RE: Request for clarification and for the 'written reports' of the
qualifications of Court of Claims Judge William A. Wetzel"
[Wetzel]
CJA's December 19, 2001 FOIL request to Senate Judiciary Committee
-- "RE: Request for Information Pertaining to Senate Confirmation of
Governor George Pataki's Judicial Appointees to the Lower State Courts and to
the New York Court of Appeals -- and Request to Inspect Relevant Documents
Pursuant to F.O.I.L."
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's December
19, 2001 FOIL request to Senate Judiciary Committee -- "RE: F.O.I.L.
Request to Inspect Documents from the Record of the Senate Judiciary Committee's
January 27, 1987 'Public Hearing to Consider the Nomination of JOSEPH W.
BELLACOSA as an Associate Judge to the New York State Court of Appeals"
[FOIL, etc]
2002
Senate Judiciary Committee's
January 4, 2002 letter -- "RE: Foil Requests of December 19, 2001"
[FOIL, etc]
Senate Judiciary Committee's
January 16, 2002 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's January 22, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
-- "RE" CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L. Requests"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's January 22, 2002 letter to 1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee Chairman
Gill --
"RE: (1) On-the-Bench Misconduct by Appellate Division,
First Department Justices Milton L. Williams, Richard T. Andrias, and John T.
Buckley, Disqualifying Them from Consideration for Appointment as Presiding
Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department; (2) Informational Requests"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
(indicated copy to Nan Weiner, Exec. Director/Gov Pataki's
Judicial Screening Committees)
Ex. A: NYLJ items, 1/22/02, 12/26/01
Ex B: Appellate Division, First Dept decisions in Mantell v. Commission
& Elena Ruth Sassower v. Commission,
as printed in
NYLJ, 11/20/00, 12/20/01
SEE:
Michael Mantell v. Commission
Elena Ruth Sassower v.
Commission
(Test Case-State
(Commission))
CJA's January 22, 2002 fax to Nan Weiner, Exec. Director/Gov Pataki's Judicial
Screening Committees --
"RE: 1st Dept. Judicial Screening"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's January 22, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's January 23, 2003 letter to 1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee Chairman
Gill--
- "RE: (1) On-the-Bench Misconduct by Appellate Division, First Department
Justices Milton L. Williams, Richard T. Andrias, and John T. Buckley,
Disqualifying Them from Consideration for Appointment as Presiding Justice of
the Appellate Division, First Department; (2) Informational Requests"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's January 23,
2002 letter to Attorney General Spitzer
--"RE: Your Duty to Protect the People of this State from the Possible Elevation
of Milton L. Williams, John T. Buckley, or Richard T. Andrias, each Appellate
Division, First Department Associate Justices, to the position of Presiding
Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department"
(indicated copies to Solicitor General
Halligan and Commission on Judicial Conduct)
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's January 23, 2002 coverletter to Solicitor General Halligan
--"RE: Your Duty to Protect the People of this State from the Possible Elevation
of Milton L. Williams, John T. Buckley, or Richard T. Andrias, each Appellate
Division, First Department Associate Justices, to the position of Presiding
Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's January 23, 2002 coverletter to Commission on Judicial Conduct
--"RE: Your Duty to Protect the People of this State from the Possible Elevation
of Milton L. Williams, John T. Buckley, or Richard T. Andrias, each Appellate
Division, First Department Associate Justices, to the position of Presiding
Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 7, 2002 letter to 1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee Chairman
Gill --
"RE: Supplement to CJA's January 22, 2002 Letter: On-the-Bench Misconduct of
Appellate Division, First Department Justice Eugene L. Nardelli, Disqualifying
Him from Consideration for Appointment as Presiding Justice of the Appellate
Division, First Department"
(indicated copy to Nan Weiner, Exec. Director/Gov Pataki's Judicial
Screening Committees)
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
Ex. A: NYLJ item, 2/7/02
Ex. B: 11/19/01 decision of Appellate Division Justice Nardelli
Ex. C: 8/17/01 notice of motion in Elena Ruth Sassower v. Commission
CJA's February 7, 2002 letter to Nan Weiner, Exec. Director/Gov Pataki's
Judicial Screening Committees -- "RE: First Department Judicial
Screening Committee's Purported Review of Qualifications of Candidates for
Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division First Department -- and Failure to
Provide Requested Information and Documents"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 8, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE" CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L. Requests"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's February 12, 2002 letter to Attorney General Spitzer --
"RE: (1) Supplement to CJA's January 23, 2002 Letter-Notice: Your Duty to Your
Duty to Protect the People of this State from the Possible Appointment of Eugene
L. Nardelli, Acting Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First
Department, to the Position of Presiding Justice; (2) Your Mandatory Supervisory
Duty to Withdraw Assistant Solicitor General Carol Fischer's fraudulent
opposition to the January 17, 2002 Motion for Reargument in Elena Ruth
Sassower, Coordinator of the Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc., acting
pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New York"
(indicated copies to Solicitor General Halligan and Commission on
Judicial Conduct)
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 12, 2002 letter to Solicitor General Halligan
--
"RE: (1) Supplement to CJA's January 23, 2002 Letter-Notice: Your Duty to Your
Duty to Protect the People of this State from the Possible Appointment of Eugene
L. Nardelli, Acting Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First
Department, to the Position of Presiding Justice; (2) Your Mandatory Supervisory
Duty to Withdraw Assistant Solicitor General Carol Fischer's fraudulent
opposition to the January 17, 2002 Motion for Reargument in Elena Ruth
Sassower, Coordinator of the Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc., acting
pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of New York"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 12, 2002 letter to Commission --
"RE: (1) Possible
Appointment of Eugene L. Nardelli, Acting Presiding Justice of the Appellate
Division, First Department, to the Position of Presiding Justice; (2) The
Commission's Supervisory Duty to Withdraw Assistant Solicitor General Carol
Fischer's fraudulent opposition to the January 17, 2002 Motion for Reargument in
Elena Ruth Sassower, Coordinator of the Center for Judicial Accountability,
Inc., acting pro bono publico v. Commission on Judicial Conduct of the State of
New York"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 13, 2002 letter to 1st Dept Judicial Screening Committee Chairman
Gill
--
"RE: The Unfitness of Appellate Division, First Department
Justices Milton L. Williams, John T. Buckley, Richard T. Andrias, and Eugene L.
Nardelli, Disqualifying Them from Consideration for Appointment as Presiding
Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's February 13, 2002 fax to Nan Weiner, Exec. Director/Gov Pataki's Judicial
Screening Committees -- "RE: Unfitness of Judicial Candidates"
[Designation of Presiding Justice-Appellate Division]
CJA's April 26, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE" CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L. Requests"
[FOIL, etc]
Senate Judiciary Committee's
May 8, 2002 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's June 24, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE: Inspection of F.O.I.L.-requested documents pertaining to Governor Pataki's
judicial appointees"
[FOIL, etc]
Senate Judiciary Committee's
June 26, 2002 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's June 26, 2002 letter to Senate
Judiciary Committee --
"RE: Inspection of F.O.I.L.-requested documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's July 16, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE: Inspection of F.O.I.L.-requested documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's July 31, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE: Inspection of F.O.I.L.-requested documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's October 31, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE: Inspection of ALL publicly-available documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees, as requested by CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L.
requests"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's November 6, 2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee
--
"RE: Inspection of ALL publicly-available documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees, as requested by CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L.
requests"
[FOIL, etc]
Senate Judiciary Committee's November 22, 2002 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's November 22, 2002 letter
--
"RE: Inspection of ALL publicly-available documents pertaining to Governor
Pataki's judicial appointees, as requested by CJA's December 19, 2001 F.O.I.L.
requests"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's
December 6, 2002 letter to Mark Ustin/Governor Pataki's Records
Access Officer -- "RE: CJA's March 30, 1999 F.O.I.L. request and March
30, 2001 supplement, for, inter alia, (1) the 'written reports of the
qualifications of Governor Pataki's judicial appointees, prepared by his
judicial screening committees; and (2) documents pertaining to the operations
and procedures of the Governor's judicial screening committees"
[FOIL,
etc]
CJA's December 12, 2002 letter to Nan Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's
Judicial Screening Committees -- "RE: Publicly-Available
Information Regarding Governor Pataki's Appointment of Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairman James J. Lack to the Court of Claims" [Lack]
CJA's
December 16, 2002 letter to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Senate Minority
Leader Martin Connor, & Senate Minority Leader-Elect David Paterson Inventory
of Substantiating Documents
--
"RE: (1) Postponing Senate
Confirmation Proceedings on the Nomination of Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman James J. Lack to the Court of Claims to no earlier than January 9,
2003; (2) Constituting a More Neutral Senate Forum for the Holding of the
Confirmation 'Hearing'; and (3) Commencing Review of CJA's Documentary Evidence
of Chairman Lack's Unfitness for Judicial Office"
[Lack]
(indicated copies to Lack, NYS Senators, press)
-- attaching
City Bar's January
1997 "Report on Nomination and Confirmation of Court of Claims Judges"
--
CJA's December
19, 2001
informational/FOIL request on judicial confirmations
CJA's December 16,
2002 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee -- ATT: Chairman Lack --
"RE: CJA's Opposition to Senate Confirmation of your Nomination to the Court of
Claims; Request for Production of CJA's Original Submissions; Request to Testify
in Opposition; Request for the Presence of a Court Stenographer; Request for
Publicly-Available Documents Pertaining to your Nominations"
[Lack]
(indicated copies to Senate Leadership)
CJA's December 18, 2002 letter to Nan Weiner, Executive Director/Governor Pataki's
Judicial Screening Committees -- "RE: Publicly-Available
Information Regarding Governor Pataki's Appointment of Senate Judiciary
Committee Chairman James J. Lack to the Court of Claims"
[Lack]
2003
CJA's
January 9, 2003 letter to Assistant Counsel Ustin --
"RE: CJA's unresponded-to December 6, 2002 F.O.I.L. request -- herein now
supplemented"
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel Ustin's January 13, 2003 letter
[FOIL, etc]
[NOTE: January 2003: "Merit Selection"
Appointment of Read to the NY Court of Appeals]
CJA's March 5, 2003 memo to Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committee
leadership, transmitting a copy of
"NOT
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC", 1989 report on the New York State
Commission on Judicial Conduct by New York State Comptroller Edward
Regan
CJA's
April 16, 2003 letter to Mark Ustin, Governor Pataki's Assistant Counsel/Records Access Officer
-- "RE: F.O.I.L. Requests of December 6, 2002 & January 9, 2003; (2)
F.O.I.L. Requests of January 14, 2003 & January 16, 2003; (3) Newly-Initiated
F.O.I.L. Request Pertaining to the Governor's 'Federal Appointments Screening
Committee'/'Federal Judicial Screening Committee"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's April 16, 2003 letter
to Nan Weiner, Executive Director/Gov. Pataki's Judicial Screening Committees
-- "RE: (1) CJA's April 16, 2003 F.O.I.L. request to the Governor's Records
Access Officer; (2) CJA's March 30, 2001 letter to you for information and
documents -- to which we have received no response from you"
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Ustin's April 23, 2003
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Ustin's November 5, 2003 letter
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Ustin's November 6, 2003 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's December 5, 2003 letter to
W. Brooks DeBow, Governor Pataki's Deputy Counsel -- "RE: CJA's April
16, 2003 F.O.I.L. Request Pertaining to the Governor's 'Federal Appointments
Screening Committee'/Federal Judicial Screening Committee"
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's December 6, 2003
letter to Deputy Counsel W. Brooks DeBow --
"RE: CJA's December 6, 2002 and January 9, 2003 F.O.I.L. Requests Renewing and
Supplementing CJA's March 30, 1999 and March 30, 2001 F.O.I.L. Requests
Pertaining to the Governor's Judicial Screening Committees for the Lower State
Courts, as well as CJA's Requests for the Financial Statement of Albert
Rosenblatt in Connection with his Appointment to the New York Court of Appeals"
[FOIL, etc]
Deputy Counsel
DeBow's December 19, 2003 letter
responding to December 5, 2003 letter-- "RE: FOIL Appeal 2003-4 (FOIL Appeal
Request Dated December 5, 2003 and Received on December 5, 2003"
[FOIL, etc]
Deputy Counsel
DeBow's December 19, 2003 letter
responding to December 6, 2003 letter -- "RE: FOIL Appeal 2003-3 (FOIL Appeal
Request Dated December 6, 2003 and Received on December 8 2003)"
[FOIL, etc]
Assistant Counsel
Ustin's December 22, 2003 letter
[FOIL, etc]
CJA's December 26, 2003 letter to
Deputy Counsel DeBow -- "RE" FOIL APPEAL 2003-3: CJA's December 6, 2002
and January 9, 2003 F.O.I.L. Requests, Renewing and Supplementing CJA's March
30, 1999 and March 30, 2001 F.O.I.L. Request Pertaining to the Governor's
Judicial Screening Committees for the Lower State Courts, as well as CJA's
Requests for the Financial Statement of Albert Rosenblatt in Connection with his
Appointment to the Court of Appeals"
[FOIL, etc]
[NOTE:
December 2003 - January 2004: "Merit Selection" Appointment of Smith to the NY
Court of Appeals] |
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