PUBLIC LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THE COMMISSION

When a judge commences a lawsuit against the Commission, typically pursuant to Article 78 of the CPLR in order to stay the Commission from pursuing a disciplinary complaint against the judge, such proceedings are public. Sometimes, a third party (such as a witness or an associate of the judge) may commence a lawsuit against the Commission.  On occasion, the court rulings in such cases address significant procedural issues, such as those in the chart below.