Guilford judge resigns, agrees to never serve again after state investigation
GUILFORD – A judge for the Town of Guilford and Village of Oxford courts has resigned and agreed to never seek or accept judicial office again following an investigation into allegations of poor demeanor by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct closed its investigation into Joan M. Kline on June 20 after Kline accepted a stipulation that she would never seek judicial office again.
In January 2018, records show the commission requested Kline provide court records, including audio recordings, in the case Timothy Warneck v. Michael DeNinis and Vickey Kemmerer after a complaint alleged “...she was rude to defendants and engaged in an unauthorized ex parte conversation with the claimant...”
While Kline produced the paper records of the case, she did not produce the audio recordings. She then tendered her resignation to the Village of Oxford and Town of Guilford on February 22 and February 23, respectively, with her last day being March 31.
In a statement, Commissioner Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said, “A judge is obliged to be patient, dignified and courteous to all with whom she deals in her official capacity. Judge Kline’s resignation at an early stage of this inquiry ends the matter.”
The commission accepted the stipulation in a decision and order dated June 13 under the pretense that Kline shall never seek or accept judicial office again following her retirement.
The decision comes after Kline was served a formal written complaint in July 2017 containing seven charges against her including: acting in a manner that appeared to coerce guilty pleas, conveying an appearance of bias, and making discourteous and threatening comments.
The commission recommended a censure for Kline in a determination in December 2017, stating, “We note that [Kline] has acknowledged that her conduct was inconsistent with the ethical mandates and the procedures required by law, and we trust that she will abide by her pledge to conform these standards in the future.”
Kline – who is not an attorney – had been judge of the Town of Guilford Court since 2008. She had been an acting justice of the Village of Oxford Court since March 2013 and was temporarily assigned justice of the Oxford Village Court in May 2017.
The NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct closed its investigation into Joan M. Kline on June 20 after Kline accepted a stipulation that she would never seek judicial office again.
In January 2018, records show the commission requested Kline provide court records, including audio recordings, in the case Timothy Warneck v. Michael DeNinis and Vickey Kemmerer after a complaint alleged “...she was rude to defendants and engaged in an unauthorized ex parte conversation with the claimant...”
While Kline produced the paper records of the case, she did not produce the audio recordings. She then tendered her resignation to the Village of Oxford and Town of Guilford on February 22 and February 23, respectively, with her last day being March 31.
In a statement, Commissioner Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said, “A judge is obliged to be patient, dignified and courteous to all with whom she deals in her official capacity. Judge Kline’s resignation at an early stage of this inquiry ends the matter.”
The commission accepted the stipulation in a decision and order dated June 13 under the pretense that Kline shall never seek or accept judicial office again following her retirement.
The decision comes after Kline was served a formal written complaint in July 2017 containing seven charges against her including: acting in a manner that appeared to coerce guilty pleas, conveying an appearance of bias, and making discourteous and threatening comments.
The commission recommended a censure for Kline in a determination in December 2017, stating, “We note that [Kline] has acknowledged that her conduct was inconsistent with the ethical mandates and the procedures required by law, and we trust that she will abide by her pledge to conform these standards in the future.”
Kline – who is not an attorney – had been judge of the Town of Guilford Court since 2008. She had been an acting justice of the Village of Oxford Court since March 2013 and was temporarily assigned justice of the Oxford Village Court in May 2017.
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