Mon. Sep 16th, 2024

NEW YORK — A judge in upstate New York was accused by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct of keeping a Confederate flag in his chambers and sharing racist memes on social media.

Following the commission’s findings, a Herkimer County judge is facing possible removal from the bench after he also allegedly did not complete required judicial training, and additional misconduct allegations.

In the commission’s determination, which includes their recommendation for the judge to be removed, he was accused of not communicating with the commission after he was served in February with a formal complaint.

According to the commission, the judge kept a statue on his desk that displayed a Confederate flag, which could be seen from the courtroom when the door was open. The flag was in his office from 2005 until March 2023, they wrote.

New York State banned the selling and display of Confederate flags, swastikas and other hate symbols on public property in 2021.

The document includes screenshots from the judge’s Facebook page, which were visible this year.

More on the accusations of racial bias and misconduct.