Frustrated Judge Reprimanded for Sarcastic Tone, ‘Asshole’ Remark
A New York state judge says he won’t fight a reprimand for speaking to litigants in a tone of voice deemed to be sarcastic, angry and scolding. He was also cited for telling staffers that a litigant was an “asshole.”
Spero Pines has been a judge with the Broome County Family Court for 14 years. In an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct found that Pines spoke in an intemperate manner in three cases, including two in which litigants in jail sought custody of their children, the Press & Sun Bulletin reports.
Pines told the newspaper he cooperated and would not fight the decision to reprimand him.
In one case, Pines told a litigant who was seeking custody while in jail that his testimony was “inane” and his interest in joint custody was “patently ridiculous.” Nonetheless, the commission found the litigant was not denied a fair trial.
In another case, both parents were in jail. Pines told the parents: “Neither one of you are in any position to take care of these children. As far as I’m concerned, you’re not in a position to take care of pets, much less children.” The parties later agreed on a custody and visitation plan.
In the third case, after the parties had left the courtroom, Pines twice called one of the litigants an “asshole” in the presence of courthouse staff. Two dissenting members of the conduct commission said the “asshole” remark should not be sanctioned since Pines was speaking in private conversation with two court staffers and disqualified himself from the case.
Pines issued a statement to the newspaper that said: “I welcomed the commission’s review of my 14-year tenure on the Family Court bench and I understand and accept their criticism of me in the three cases cited. I am pleased that this matter has been concluded and look forward to continuing my service to the people and in particular the children of Broome County.”
