42.4 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Manhattan Judge Steps Down From Silver Case

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

Justice Joan Madden disclosed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 10, that she is a former colleague of Silver's attorney and thus has recused herself from the case
Justice Joan Madden disclosed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 10, that she is a former colleague of Silver’s attorney and thus has recused herself from the case
A Manhattan judge has recused herself from a sexual harassment case brought about by two of Vito Lopez’s alleged harassment victims. The case is being brought against not only Lopez but also against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, according to the New York Post. She is a former colleague of Silver’s attorney.

Justice Joan Madden disclosed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 10, that she is a former colleague of Silver’s attorney. In addition, she revealed that she had served on the bench during the same time period as the speaker’s in-house counsel, Jim Yates.

According to the Post, former staffers Victoria Burhans, 27, and Chloe Rivera, 25, sued in June claiming that Lopez would not have been able to abuse the young women “without the assistance of the Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver,” because he knew other female staff had complained about the disgraced lawmaker’s behavior.

The Post reported that the women focus on Silver in the suit because he allegedly “aided and abetted” the sexual discrimination “by allowing a hostile work environment,” the suit says.

Kevin Mintzer, the women’s attorney, told the judge that Yates was closely involved in the decision to “sweep the seamy allegations under the rug and craft a confidential settlement.”

Both Judge Madden and Yates started their careers as Legal Aid lawyers in 1973.

Madden has served as a Supreme Court judge for over 14 years.

Yates was appointed to the Supreme Court around the same time in 1998. He stepped down and joined Silver in 2011.

There is a parallel case pending in Manhattan Federal Court. The judge in that suit is considering a motion to toss the case.

In related news, two more judges have stepped down in the days following Madden’s announcement. At press time, no judge has been assigned to the Lopez sexual harassment case.

“The $65,000 paid to a law firm this fall is on top of $115,000 that Silver paid from his campaign account in the first six months of the year for legal bills stemming from the Lopez probe. The $40,000 payout in September came the day after the husband of Silver’s chief of staff was arrested, but the speaker’s spokesman strongly denies a connection,” the News reported.

“These are old bills related to last year’s … investigation,” Silver spokesman Michael Whyland said.

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -