Corrupt NYS Commission for Judicial Conduct leaves yet another drunk driving judge on the bench

The New York State (Corrupt) Commission for Judicial Conduct has issued an order of censure against Supreme Court Justice of Kings County Carl F. Landicino, yet another drunk-driving judge who touted his judgeship in his effort to reduce a felony charge to a speeding ticket.

Judge Landicino admitted to be an alcoholic, claimed to have attended treatment, and through such claims, escaped removal and remains on the bench.

His felony grand jury indictment was reduced to a misdemeanor.

His vehicle was not civilly forfeited, as it could be.

There is no report that his license was suspended, as it should have been because he repeatedly refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.

Despite his admission as being an alcoholic for many years (which he did not disclose in his election campaign, otherwise, very possibly, he would not have been elected), he was sentenced to a conditional discharge, and not to probation, and was thus not subject to:

1. mandatory Ignition Interlock Device on all vehicles in his family - a costly measure bankrupting many families of drunk drivers;
2. curfew;
3. mandatory warrantless searches of his residence

In fact, had he been placed on probation, Judge Landicino would have been in jail now, because he admitted to several "relapses".

Judge Landicino was not subject to disciplinary proceedings as a lawyer because of his indictment for a felony which requires only preponderance of the evidence, the same evidentiary standard that is required for attorney discipline.

And - New Yorkers, rejoice - Judge Landicino is giving lectures to DWI offenders how, as a drunk driving alcoholic judge he is treated "equally under the law".

Read the full decision about Judge Landicino's slap on the wrist here.

But, since alcoholism cannot be fully cured, watch out if Judge Landicino is drunk on he bench while making decisions about your lives, because the Commission and the criminal court refused to ensure that Judge Landicino's alcoholism that resulted in

1. unsafe aggressive drunk driving on Interstate 87;
2. leading a high speed (80 mph) police chase and jeopardizing lives of other people on that highway;
3. invoking his judicial position in seeking leniency to have his felony charges reduced to a speeding ticket, and that was during the very first year of his judgeship,
4. changing plates right after arrest from standard to "Supreme Court Justice" and then back to standard right before the disciplinary hearing.

Judge Landicino expressed in many ways his position that, as a judge, he is above the law.

And the NYS Commission for Judicial Conduct that allows its members to drum up business out of their own positions, allowed Judge Landicino to escape without losing his judgeship, for doing the same.

By the way, here is a decision from Mississippi denying reinstatement of a disbarred attorney.

The Mississippi reinstatement court stated the following:

"We find that Morrison has failed to satisfy us that he has effectively rehabilitated himself “to the point that he should enjoy a license to practice law.”  In coming to this conclusion, we note the seriousness of his offense.   While the felony embezzlement charges were dismissed or nolle prosequied, these were felony level charges involving fraud, deceit, and dishonesty, which he also attempted to hide from an investigation."


Same as in Judge Landicino's case, the attorney was charged, but not convicted for a felony.

Same as in Judge Landicino's case, the attorney "attempted to hide from an investigation".

Moreover, in Judge Landicino's case the judge not only "attempted to hide from an investigation", but did it by engaging in a high-speed chase for 2 miles, on a highway, while the trooper chasing him, with lights and a siren on, had to change the tone of the siren twice before the judge pulled over.

In Mr. Morrison's case, Mr. Morrison simply attempted to hide from an investigation.

In Judge Landicino's case, the judge attempted to hide in a way that jeopardized safety and lives of many other people.

Mr. Morrison was disbarred.

Judge Landicino remains on the bench, with his law license intact.


Why?


Maybe, this is the reason?


"For five years, Landicino, who declined to comment for this story, has been attorney for the Kings County Democratic Party. And over the last 12 years he has made a career out of suing would-be challengers to the Brooklyn Democrats’ favored nominees for legislative and other elected seats."


Landicino was a valuable guy to many influential people, for a very long time before he came to the bench.


For that reason, he can remain on the highways and on the bench, without any restrictions or checks on his alcoholism as other drunk drivers have, and can continue to be the "Honorable" member of the judiciary and the legal profession until he kills somebody, and even then he may be given a slap on the wrist, as Otsego County Judge Burns gave to a rich and influential killer of a young woman recently, see my blogs here and here.


This is New York, ladies and gentlemen.


This is not Mississippi.