Judge Astacio Jailed Again After Hearing
Rochester City Estimate, Leticia D. Astacio [photo], could be formally removed, in thirty days if her entreatment fails
A gauge in upstate New York with a history of drunken antics and ans a string of official misconduct charges is on the verge of losing her job.
The Land Commission on Judicial Conduct has recommended that Rochester City Court Judge Leticia D. Astacio exist removed from office this week after a series of incidents , including a stint in jail for driving while intoxicated, that "undermined trust" in the justice system.
Astacio had already been stripped of all her judicial duties past state court officials and earlier this calendar month was suspended by the state's highest court afterward she was arrested for trying to purchase a gun while on probation.
Commission Chairman Joseph Belluck said: "Nobody, including a judge — is higher up the law," in a statement.
"This unanimous decision from the commission sends a strong message that driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence, and that the penalties for judges who drink and drive volition exist severe."
Astacio is in tears afterwards she was sentenced to spend lx days in jail with three years probation to follow after she failed to appear in courtroom or provide a court-ordered booze exam. She preferred a trip to Thailand, instead of appearing as ordered in May 2017
Judge Astacio has 30 days to appeal the commission's ruling to the Court of Appeals before she is formally removed. Her attorney, Robert Julian, said Tuesday they are still reviewing the commission's ruling.
Astacio, who had served on City Court since 2015, was convicted of drunken driving in Baronial 2022 after she was found in her damaged car on the side of the route and tried to escape arrest by invoking her judicial office. She also used profane language in dealing with the responding officers.
After beingness sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, Astacio, within a few months, violated the terms of her judgement past attempting to start her auto while testing positive for booze on the ignition interlock device.
In May 2017, she failed to provide a courtroom-ordered alcohol test and announced in court every bit ordered. Instead, she was on a trip to Thailand. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years' probation.
Leticia Astacio seen in a Rochester court during a probation violation hearing Nov 9, 2017, claims she has been unfairly targeted and exposed to ridicule
Committee officials also found Astacio guilty of misconduct while on the bench past failing to disqualify herself from the arraignment of a former client and making "discourteous, insensitive and undignified comments."
In one instance, she told a sheriff's deputy that he should "Tase," "shoot" or "dial" a confusing defendant "in the face."
In another instance, Astacio laughed when a defence chaser in a sexual abuse example said the alleged victim had "buyer'south remorse" and she later said the annotate was "freakin' hilarious" even while acknowledging that the prosecutor was offended.
Observes say by themselves, these lapses in judgment may accept earned Astacio a mild public rebuke. But tall things considered, instead they are part of the instance the Committee on Judicial Behave built against Astacio when information technology decided to strip her of her judgeship. Her more egregious errors were well publicized, her drunken driving conviction, her failure to bide past post-conviction terms, her ill-timed trip to Thailand that caused her to miss court-ordered monitoring.
"Religion in the courts requires all judges to respect and comply with the law, to preside fairly and without fifty-fifty the appearance of bias, and to obey courtroom orders when they themselves are litigants," Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said. "Regrettably, Judge Astacio failed to uphold each of these principles."
Source: https://konniemoments.com/2018/04/24/ny-state-judicial-panel-recommends-firing-jurist-judge-leticia-astacio-slammed-for-drunken-driving-antics-that-undermined-trust-in-justice-system/
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