A non-attorney town justice who fixed a ticket for a friend despite a prior warning against presiding over matters involving acquaintances has been targeted for removal by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. In a divided opinion, the commission said yesterday that as a judge for nearly 30 years Middletown Town Justice Glen George of Delaware County "should have recognized that his actions were inconsistent with fundamental ethical principles." It concluded he is "not fit for judicial office." But two dissenters said removing the 78-year-old "under these circumstances lowers the bar for removal too much and sets a troubling precedent for the future."
Records show that George, a retired state trooper whose term expires this year, dismissed a seat-belt violation that had been issued to a friend, even though he was previously cautioned about presiding over matters involving his friend’s family. Additionally, George made improper statements to a prospective litigant in another matter, discouraging the individual from pursuing a small claims actions against a longtime resident, according to the commission.
