In a thinly veiled swipe at Brooklyn Democratic boss Clarence Norman, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday called on party leaders to “clean house” to fix the tainted judicial-nomination process.
In a speech to hundreds of lawyers at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Bloomberg said that “broad-based screening panels” should be established to evaluate potential judges, removing political favoritism and cronyism from the process.
A commitment to the enhanced screening panels “would send the clear message that behavior such as that alleged in Brooklyn will not be tolerated,” Bloomberg said.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes has convened a special grand jury to investigate allegations that Brooklyn judgeships are for sale.
Bloomberg’s call for reform comes some five weeks after Brooklyn state Supreme Court Justice Gerald Garson was arrested for allegedly taking cash and gifts – including a box of cigars – to influence divorce cases. He has since been indicted on six felony counts of receiving reward for official misconduct. His lawyer said he’s innocent.
Bloomberg said the Garson case and similar alleged judicial misdeeds could do long-lasting harm to the legal system.
“Trust in the courts begins with confidence in our judges,” he said.