In the summer of 2022, what should have been an ordinary high school graduation party in New Hartford, New York, became the beginning of the end for State Supreme Court Justice Erin P. Gall. An altercation involving uninvited teenagers escalated into a confrontation that would later cost her not only her seat on the bench but also her eligibility to ever serve as a judge again.
A Graduation Party Turns Ugly
The party began like many suburban celebrations: music, laughter, and teenagers gathered to celebrate the milestone of finishing high school. But tensions flared when four Black teenagers, who had not been invited, arrived and got into an argument with other guests over lost car keys.
What happened next was captured on police body cameras. Judge Gall, attending the party with her husband and teenage son, intervened in a way that shocked both law enforcement officers and, later, the public.
She repeatedly identified herself as a judge more than a dozen times while pressuring police to arrest the teens. She referred to them dismissively, saying they “don’t look like they’re that smart” and sneered that they were “not going to business school, that’s for sure.” Gall went even further, telling officers that if the teens returned, “they’ll be arrested, or they’ll be shot.”
The Commission Responds:
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct investigated the incident. In July 2024, it unanimously recommended Gall’s removal, citing her racially offensive, profane, and threatening language as evidence of misconduct that deeply eroded public confidence in the judiciary (ABA Journal, People).
The Commission stressed that Gall’s repeated invocation of her judicial position to influence police, combined with racially charged insults and threats of gun violence, represented a grave breach of ethics.
Suspension, Resignation, and New Job
On July 31, 2024, the New York Court of Appeals suspended Gall with pay while reviewing the Commission’s findings.
Months later, facing mounting public outrage and a nearly certain removal, Gall announced her resignation effective January 1, 2025. She told the court that her decision was driven in part by threats made against her family.
But her resignation did not mark the end of her public role. Soon after, she accepted a taxpayer-funded position as an assistant county attorney in Herkimer County, earning about $52,000 a year, an appointment that sparked fresh criticism from ethics watchdogs.
Final Ruling: Banned from the Bench
On January 9, 2025, the New York Court of Appeals issued its final ruling: Erin Gall was formally removed from judicial office, making her permanently ineligible to serve as a judge in New York ever again.
Why This Case Matters
Judges hold a unique position of trust in our society. They are expected to uphold fairness, impartiality, and restraint even outside the courtroom. Gall’s case illustrates how quickly that trust can collapse when a judge abuses their status for personal gain or engages in racially charged, threatening conduct.
Her downfall is more than just a personal scandal. It serves as a warning about accountability: no robe, no title, and no bench can shield a judge from consequences when their actions betray the very principles of justice they swore to uphold.
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