Albany, N.Y. (AP) - A town justice in western New York has resigned after he was accused of trying to thwart the arrest of his former brother-in-law on drunken driving charges.
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Wednesday announced the resignation of James Mann as a justice for the Nunda town and village courts. The commission said Mann had also agreed to not seek a judicial office in the future.
The complaint against Mann, who is not an attorney, stemmed from an Aug. 2016 incident where an officer pulled over his former brother-in-law.
The commission said the motorist was arrested after he failed three sobriety tests. Mann’s former wife informed him of the situation from the scene of the traffic stop, according to the commission.
Mann then called Kenneth Mignemi, then the Mt. Morris Village police chief, and asked whether the chief could give the former brother-in-law a break.
The chief, according to the complaint, then told the officer to release the man and have another person drive the vehicle.
The Democrat and Chronicle reported that Mignemi was suspended without pay. His suspension was later lifted and he subsequently retired.
Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian issued a statement saying public safety and the judiciary’s integrity are compromised when a judge prevents a lawful arrest.
“Exerting special influence to get such a ‘break’ for a friend or relative is unquestionably and obviously dangerous and wrong,” he said in the statement.
Mann’s lawyer didn’t respond to a phone message.
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Ryan Tarinelli is a corps member for Report for America, a nonprofit organization that supports local news coverage in a partnership with The Associated Press for New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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