Corrupt Court System Adopts Laughable Hiring Rules

Court System Adopts Recommended Hiring Rules
The New York Law Journal by John Caher  -  April 4, 2012

A day after the Commission on Judicial Conduct questioned hiring practices in the Appellate Division, the administrative board of the courts voted unanimously to adopt the panel's recommendations and to implement new procedures for hiring. Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti said the board, which consists of herself, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and the four presiding justices, agreed to adopt uniform hiring and employment protocols as a result of the commission's March 30 report in a matter centering on First Department Presiding Justice Luis Gonzalez (NYLJ, April 3).  In the report, the commission criticized hiring practices in the First Department, where open positions were not advertised, hiring decisions were made within the presiding justice's chambers and relatives of employees were frequently hired. But it also called for a statewide protocol that would include public advertising of openings, vetting by panels of senior staff and recusal of those within four degrees of relationship to an existing employee or his or her spouse. Prudenti said the commission's recommendations would be implemented immediately.  Robert Tembeckjian, administrator and counsel to the conduct commission, said the "prompt and positive action by the chief judge and the administrative board will certainly enhance public confidence in the courts."  Also at the meeting, the judges discussed stipends for judges and salary increases for about 260 senior court officials whose salaries have been frozen for eight years. Judges on April 1 received a 17 percent pay hike, their first raise in 13 years, but are hoping to retain a $10,000 annual stipend for office expenses that was provided in lieu of a raise. Senior staff are arguing that since their salaries were frozen because the judges did not get a raise, their pay should now be increased. Prudenti said no decisions were made, and she expects the board will take up both matters at its next meeting. The board usually meets monthly.