| ► Judge Nilda Horowitz of New Rochelle, NY; scofflaw; moron, ethical gremlin |
 |
 |
|
Judge Nilda Horowitz of New Rochelle, NY; scofflaw, moron, ethical gremlin
Sadly,
 Judge Nilda Horowitz is a Family Court Judge in New Rochelle, New York. 
A couple of years ago, the New York Judicial Commission embarked on an investigation relating to the misconduct of Judge Nilda Horowitz.
On at least six (6) occasions Judge Nilda Horowitz held ex parte (one-sided) conversations about a custody case that involved her friend with the supervising judge of Westchester Family Court who initially handled an application for emergency relief. Judge Nilda Horowitz also illegally spoke to the judge who was actually assigned to the case, and with that judge’s court clerk and court attorney.
During these six illegal conversations, Judge Nilda Horowitz stated that the couple involved in the custody case was her friends. Judge Nilda Horowitz went on to ask the court clerk to “look after the couple, “ whom she said were “really nice people and good parents.”
In another matter, Judge Nilda Horowitz again attempted to help another friend who was once her child’s teacher. She left a recorded telephone message wherein she attempted to help the friend gain the judicial relief she was seeki
 ng.
Judge Nilda Horowitz’s friend was embroiled in litigation with her husband before another judge. Shortly after the friend told her she was planning to file a new matter, Judge Horowitz called the other judge’s court attorney (she previously worked for her) and told her that her friend didn’t have a “good rapport” with the other judge. Judge Nilda Horowitz was recorded asking the court attorney for her “suggestions” on how to get this judge off her friend’s case.
While Judge Nilda Horowitz was questioned under oath by the Judicial Commission regarding her efforts to get rid of the judge in her friend’s case, she was asked if there were any other instances wherein she communicated with judges or court staff about individual litigants or soon-to-be litigants.
At the time Judge Nilda Horowitz was testifying, the Judicial Commission had not yet received the complaint concerning her efforts involving the custody matter involving her friends.
In response to the question regarding any other matters involving other litigants, Judge Nilda Horowitz lied when she said she had no such conversations.
Judicial Commission Findings
The enablers and apologists on the Commission punished Judge Nilda Horowitz by providing her with a “complimentary” censure.
Commission member Lawrence Goldman Dissent
Commissioner Lawrence Goldman practices law in New York City. At the time the Judicial Commission dealt with the misconduct of Judge Nilda Horowitz, Mr. Goldman sat in judgment of
 her.
In his dissent, Mr. Goldman wrote that he found Judge Nilda Horowitz’s claim that she had forgotten about the couple involved in the custody dispute “unconvincing” (aka, false).
Judge Nilda Horowitz’s testimony came only four (4) months after she had made six (6) requests for favorable treatment for her friends and only three (3) months after she was rebuked by the administrative judge for causing the assigned judge to recuse (withdraw) from the case. “These events are certainly memorable,” Mr. Goldman said.
Mr. Goldman dissented in finding that Judge Nilda Horowitz’s lack of candor while testifying (aka, perjury), coupled with her repeated initiatives on behalf of her friends warranted her removal from the bench. Kudos to Mr. Lawrence Goldman for having the courage and fortitude to tell it like it is.
Conclusion
And finally, the Judicial Commission said that Judge Nilda Horowitz’s misconduct was compounded when she gave inaccurate (false) information to investigators while being questioned under oath (perjury). However, since Nilda was a judge she was held to a lower standard of conduct than we are.
|