One judge in the Bronx is under a lot of pressure after the state decided to investigate that judge and her rulings.
The New York Post reports that the judge came under fire after it was revealed that the judge let a child killer out on bail. There is now speculation that the judge may be pulled from making rulings on criminal cases.
The Commission on Judicial Conduct opened the probe into Supreme Court Judge Naita Semaj after the judge angrily ejected a Bronx District Attorneys Office veteran supervisor from the courtroom on April 1, 2022. A source familiar with this investigation said: Shes a better defense attorney than an actual defense attorney, and People have to know how she really is.
Sources made the Post aware that the judge was being investigated after it came out that she was applying for a promotion to a job with the Appellate Division, First Department.
Semaj is seen as a soft-on-crime judge first elected to a 14-year term on the bench in November 2021. However, her reputation for letting accused teenage criminals back onto the streets has earned her criticism from Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats.
The Post reports that rumors are circulating that Semaj has been reassigned to handle only civil cases for the time being.
Court officials have discussed putting Semaj in Civil Court. Its under consideration, said Court Officers Union President Dennis Quirk.
Semaj may have been reassigned based on her handling of a recent murder case. This specific case involved the strangling death of 15-year-old Corde Scott. However, Semaj ruled that Scotts accused killer and stepfather would be released without bail to await trial.
Quirk said: You have to treat the victims families with respect, and
She didnt treat the victims mother with respect.
Semaj also allegedly criticized the dead childs mother. However, even before this, the Commission on Judicial Conduct had opened a probe into Semaj and her rulings.
Semaj also disagreed with a seven-year sentence for Sammy Santiago, who was 17 and convicted of attempted murder and criminal use of a firearm after shooting at two other young men who ran out of a cell phone store. She felt that the sentence was too long for the crime and clarified her opinions. However, many think that Santiago did not get enough time for a crime so severe.
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