New York Judge Mark Grisanti will not be reappointed

New York Court of Claims Judge Mark Grisanti, who is also an acting justice of the state Supreme Court, will not be reappointed for a second term by Governor Kathy Hochul following a confrontation between Buffalo officers in 2020, Spectrum News 1 he learned on Wednesday.

Hochul’s rejection of Grisanti was first reported by Law 360.

Grisanti was recommended in April by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct to be censured four years after a parking dispute outside Grisanti’s home was captured on Buffalo police body cameras.

During the incident, police appeared to try to handcuff Grisanti’s wife, Maria, but she allegedly tried to run away.

That’s when Mark Grisanti appears to have shoved an officer. Grisanti allegedly repeatedly said that his daughter and son-in-law are police officers and that “if you don’t get the handcuffs, you’re going to have a problem.”

Later body camera video appears to show Grisanti in the back of the squad car, being allowed to make a phone call with who Law 360 identified as his cousin, who is a Buffalo police detective.

No criminal charges were filed in the incident.

Grisanti’s attorney, Terry Connors, said Spectrum News 1 in a statement that “Judge Grisanti has not received formal notification regarding his reappointment. But the judges and attorneys who are most familiar with his work have expressed support. Even the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, after a thorough investigation concluded that two hours of misconduct did not warrant his removal from the bench. All objective measures support his retention.

Peter Weinmann was among Governor Hochul’s new appointments to the State Court of Claims and is expected to replace Grisanti. He was confirmed by the state Senate Judiciary Committee and must still be confirmed by the full chamber.