New York City judge admonished

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is recommending that a New York City judge be admonished for improperly communicating with other courts.

Leticia M. Ramirez, a judge for the Civil Court of New York City and an acting State Supreme Court justice, was trying to help a friend in one case and her son in the other.

Ramirez agreed to the admonition, according to the Commission.

In 2013, Ramirez invoked her judicial title on behalf of her childhood babysitter in a letter that was filed in another court in connection with an application to vacate a nine-year old misdemeanor conviction on a gambling charge.

And in the fall of 2014, Ramirez invoked her judicial office in affirmations that she   wrote on behalf of her son’s pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus in connection with his conviction on a felony charge.

Ramirez has served as a New York City Civil Court judge since 2011 and as an acting state Supreme Court justice since 2015. She has also served as an acting Kings County Family Court judge from 2011 to 2015. Her current term expires on Dec. 31, 2020.

Ramirez can either accept the Commission’s determination or ask the Court of Appeals to review the case. If Ramirez does not request a review the Commission will admonish her.

If it’s reviewed by the Court of Appeals, the Court can accept the Commission’s determination or impose a different sanction, including admonition, censure or removal, or impose no sanction.