New York Judge Resigns After Declaring All Defendants Guilty

Judge Richard T. Snyder stepped down following a misconduct investigation into his comments about impartiality during jury duty.

Richard T. Snyder, a Petersburgh Town Court judge, resigned after claiming he couldn't serve as a grand juror due to believing all defendants are guilty.
The comments, made in October 2023, led to a misconduct investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Snyder repeatedly defended his remarks, asserting that defendants had 'done something wrong,' despite acknowledging the legal presumption of innocence.
As part of a resignation agreement, Snyder is barred from seeking or holding any judicial office in the future.
The Commission's administrator criticized Snyder for undermining judicial integrity and misunderstanding the fundamental role of the judiciary.