ALBANY – The Court of Appeals yesterday removed from the bench a Family Court judge who resigned last year after disclosures that he had had sexual contact with his 5-year-old niece more than 40 years ago.

Although "troubled" by the time that has elapsed since the actions of Bryan Hedges, an Onondaga Family Court judge, the court in Matter of Hedges, 66, unanimously upheld a determination of the Commission on Judicial Conduct that will bar Hedges from ever serving as a judge again.