A judge from upstate New York has resigned after attempting to avoid jury duty by declaring that he couldn’t remain impartial, as he believed that anyone appearing in court was guilty.
Richard T Snyder, who had served as a justice in the Petersburgh Town Court for roughly ten years, resigned following allegations of misconduct from a state judicial commission, as reported by officials on Tuesday, per Huff Post. Court transcripts reveal that Snyder tried to escape jury duty in 2023 by initially introducing himself as a judge and then stating,
“I know everybody come in front of me. I know they are guilty. They would not be in front of me.”
Snyder was dismissed from jury duty. He reportedly insisted that he could not remain unbiased. Snyder said,
“No. It would not be fair,”
Court records from a special grand jury in Rensselaer County show. The judge managing the jury selection informed state officials about Snyder’s comments. He later acknowledged the principle that defendants are deemed innocent until proven guilty during a judicial commission hearing the next year. However, he maintained his belief that individuals wouldn’t be in court if they hadn’t committed any crimes.
“I meant, that they were guilty because they did something wrong. But they’re not guilty ’til they come to court. They’re innocent ’til proven guilty,”
he told the commission.
“They did something wrong. That’s why they got a ticket. But they’re not guilty,”
he added.
Robert H. Tembeckjian, who oversees the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, addressed the comment made by the former judge stating that,
“there is no place on the bench for someone who so deeply misunderstands the role of a judge and the administration of justice.”
Courts in New York do not offer automatic jury duty exemptions to anyone, including judges.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
