In our recent episode of Judges Behaving Badly, we revisit the incident involving Judge Mark J. Grisanti, which was a beer-scented misadventure dating a couple years back, that reeks of power misuse and extraordinary leniency by law enforcing authorities.
The New York-based Judge had been involved in a street fight with his neighbors, escalated by a heated argument over car parking. The plot thickens with the involvement of the police, whom Grisanti pushed when they tried to intervene and arrest his wife. He reportedly used the family’s connections with the police force and his friendship with the Buffalo Mayor to avoid charges, according to reports by the ABA Journal.
This isn’t the only instance of individuals in powerful positions bypassing the rule of law. There have been several cases in the recent past where individuals have used their authority to their advantage to evade legal repercussions – a prominent example is the case of a New York District Attorney dodging a parking ticket by leveraging his professional position.
Despite the severity of Judge Grisanti’s misconduct, the ensuing disciplinary actions weren’t as stringent as one would expect. While four members of the commission believed the Judge should be removed from office, a majority of six members voted in favor of censure. According to the ABA Journal, a censure would restrict the Judge from serving as an acting justice for two years unless special circumstances are presented.
The tale of Judge Grisanti serves as a stark reminder of the implications of unchecked power and authority in legal circles. One can only hope that such incidents will prompt better scrutiny of authorities and stricter enforcement of ethical boundaries.
For more on this, read the coverage provided by Above the Law: Fist-Fighting, Cop-Pushing Judge Gets Let Off Hook Easy