A judge in New York has decided to resign after facing criticism regarding a vacation in the Caribbean with several lawyers. Reports indicate that he exchanged text messages containing “unflattering jokes” and “graphic sexually explicit images,” which contributed to his quick exit from the bench, as noted by court officials.
The New York State Judicial Conduct Commission revealed on Monday that Rockland County Supreme Court Judge Shelly Eisenpress has agreed to resign effective April 28, following accusations of multiple conflicts of interest.
According to the Commission, Eisenpress failed to reveal his close personal ties with the lawyers, despite being present in the courtroom for their cases. This raised concerns about his impartiality, which is mandated by law.
The six attorneys in question appeared before Eisenpress from 2019 to 2024, during which they all traveled together to places like the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Jersey Shore on several occasions.
Furthermore, the group engaged in text chains with titles such as “Punta Cana Party,” “Boogie Bitch,” and “Queen Dara and Her Loyal Subjects,” referencing the court’s chief lawyer responsible for research and drafting for judges.
The commission’s summary listed that Eisenpress and the group shared secrets, travel plans, gossip, and explicit images, among other communications.
In defense against these allegations, Eisenpress mentioned that there were, perhaps, few jokes or images that might be seen as inappropriate, given the context. She insisted that she did not initiate any of these questionable messages and characterized her relationship with the attorney who managed her case as merely friendly.
But the issues didn’t stop there. Eisenpress, over her 15 years on the bench, transitioned from family court to state Supreme Court justice. The commission claimed that she oversaw 41 cases involving a law firm connected to the spouse of the court’s chief law clerk, a relationship she denied. Also, there was a marriage case in which an attorney who co-hosted a fundraiser for Eisenpress’ campaign was involved, leading to further scrutiny. Eisenpress only resigned from that case after being prompted to do so by the other spouse’s attorney.
In 2024, she allegedly did not step down from a case involving her husband, a law clerk representing one party. She ultimately resigned for reasons unrelated to that case.
European Commission President Robert Thembejian remarked that the allegations against Eisenpress were “serious,” asserting that her permanent resignation was warranted.
Eisenpress expressed gratitude for her time on the bench in a resignation letter to Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, highlighting her commitment to fostering public trust in the judicial system.
In a statement through her lawyer, she reflected on serving the people of New York as the “greatest honor” of her career while expressing disagreement with several points made by the committee regarding her situation. Ultimately, she concluded that stepping down was the best choice for her family to avoid protracted and costly legal battles.
