Chautauqua judge disciplined

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The state Commission on Judicial Conduct has determined that David A. Prince, a justice of the Pomfret Town Court and Fredonia Village Court, Chautauqua County, should be admonished.

In a determination dated Dec. 18 and made public Monday, the commission found Justice Prince should be disciplined for his conduct at an arraignment in a domestic violence case, in that he failed to advise the defendant of his right to assigned counsel, made comments that appeared to prejudge the defendant’s guilt and made critical comments about the alleged victim.

Justice Prince has served as a justice of the Pomfret Town Court since 1990 and a justice of the Fredonia Village Court since 1997. His current term as Pomfret Town justice expires on Dec. 31, 2015, and his term as Fredonia Village justice expires on April 1, 2017.

“It is fundamental to the role of a judge to be and appear impartial and to insure that all parties to a proceeding are afforded their legal rights,” said commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian. “Judge Prince has acknowledged his failure to do so in this case and renewed his commitment to these basic judicial obligations. Had this been part of a pattern, the discipline might well have been harsher than an admonition.”

Copies of the commission’s determination and related documents are available on the commission’s website: www.cjc.ny.gov.