Opinion ID: 1972014
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Ricca Matter

Text: This matter arises out of respondent's conduct while presiding in a non-jury civil proceeding entitled Elastomers Limited, Inc. v. Gino Ricca. This was an action brought against the defendant for an alleged embezzlement of funds. Our independent review of the record discloses that respondent in the course of this proceedings discussed in open court his own financial dealings, threatened the witness-defendant, extensively questioned the defendant concerning the falsification of federal tax returns, and pointedly demeaned defendant with certain comments. Respondent, for example, told the defendant, You are in this thing up to your hipboots with Uncle Sam. Forget about defending yourself. You are dead ... In a direct appeal of that case, the Appellate Division specifically criticized respondent's conduct at trial in these respects. [1] Based upon our independent assessment of the record, the evidence demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that, in their totality, respondent's comments in this matter were such that he threatened the defendant and expressed a personal bias and hostility against him that was wholly inconsistent with the judicial obligation to remain objective and neutral. This evidence also demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that respondent's conduct of this case reflected discourtesy, disrespect, and impatience, clearly constituing improper decorum and a lack of dignity, which vitiated the atmosphere of fairness and impartiality. Based upon these findings, we conclude that respondent violated Canons 1, 2A, 3A(3) and 3A(4).