Peekskill Judge Resigns After Being Charged with Misconduct

PEEKSKILL, NY — A Peekskill City Court judge has agreed to resign after being formally charged with misconduct.

Reginald J. Johnson, a judge of the Peekskill City Court, resigned from office effective September 30, 2024, and agreed never to return, after formally being charged with acts of misconduct by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

In August 2024, Judge Johnson was served with a Formal Written Complaint, alleging that he:

1. Dismissed 11 traffic tickets based on his personal relationships with the defendants or persons close to the defendants, not on the merits.

2. Addressed sexual innuendos and other inappropriate remarks to court staff and attorneys on at least two occasions.

3. On at least one occasion touched or caressed his co-judge’s arm without invitation or permission, and otherwise said offensive things to her.

4. Berated, screamed at, and otherwise treated court staff discourteously.

5. Engaged in an unauthorized ex parte communication with a government official regarding a pending criminal matter.

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct said a resignation stipulation was formalized on September 3. The Commission issued an order accepting it on September 19. Judge Johnson waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the limited extent that the stipulation and the Commission’s order accepting it would be public.

"The responsibility to decide cases impartially and on the merits is corrupted whenever a judge fixes traffic cases on behalf of friends or family," Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said. "The harmony and decorum of the courthouse is undermined whenever a judge mistreats colleagues, attorneys, and court staff. One who repeatedly does all this and more does not belong on the bench."

Judge Johnson has served as a judge of the Peekskill City Court since 2014. His current term would have expired on December 31.