Matter of Skinner

OPINION OF THE COURT

Disciplinary charges against petitioner, for nearly 40 years a Justice of the Columbia Town Court in Herkimer County, arose out of his handling of two criminal matters, both in late 1994. The first involved a social acquaintance who had been accused of sexual abuse for reaching into the car window of his newspaper delivery person and touching her breast. Departing from his customary procedure, petitioner set an arraignment date without informing the Herkimer County District Attorney. At a hearing, without the prosecutor or complainant present, petitioner heard testimony…