Ulster County Town Justice Censured for Hostile Work Environment, Misuse of Judicial Title

Albany, NY— The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct determined Wednesday that an Ulster County town justice should be censured for creating a hostile work environment and improperly using her judicial title in a personal email address.

Susan L. Kesick, a justice of the Ulster Town Court since 2006, agreed to the censure stemming from a 2023 dispute with a part-time court clerk over overtime, according to a commission press release dated March 11, 2026.

The commission found that in July 2023, Kesick disputed the clerk’s right to work overtime, acted discourteously toward the employee and improperly sought police assistance to remove the clerk from the courthouse. The following day, Kesick emailed town officials in an attempt to have the clerk fired and, during a subsequent personnel meeting, disclosed highly confidential information about the clerk.

The commission also found that Kesick used a personal email address — “slkjudge@” — that referenced her judicial title for personal business, including online shopping and bill payments. She has since created a new email address that does not reference her judicial status.

Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said judges are obligated to maintain decorum in their official roles.

“Judges are obliged to be patient, dignified and courteous toward all with whom they deal in their official capacity,” Tembeckjian said. “They must maintain decorum, not act so intolerably as to create a hostile work situation or disclose confidential information in attempting to get a colleague fired.”

In accepting the jointly recommended sanction, the commission noted that Kesick acknowledged her conduct was improper, accepted public discipline and committed to working collegially with court staff.

Kesick, who is not an attorney, was served with a formal written complaint on March 27, 2025. She filed an answer Sept. 16, 2025, and on Jan. 23, 2026, entered into an agreed statement of facts with the commission, stipulating to the facts and sanction and waiving further submissions and oral argument. The commission accepted the agreed statement Jan. 29, 2026, and filed its determination Feb. 20, 2026, with 10 members concurring.

Kesick has 30 days from receipt of the determination to request a review by the Court of Appeals. If she does not seek review, the commission will censure her in accordance with the determination. The Court of Appeals may accept, modify or reject the commission’s recommended sanction.

Kesick’s current term expires Dec. 31, 2029. She was represented by Peter A. Lauricella of Wilson Elser, LLP, in Albany.

Since 1978, the commission has issued 360 censure determinations against New York judges. Full records are available at www.cjc.ny.gov.

Image Credit: Susan Kesick