STATEOF NEWYORK

COMMISSIONONJUDICIALCONDUCT
IntheMatteroftheInvestigationofComplaints
Pursuantto Section44, subdivisions 1and2,
oftheJudiciaryLawinRelationto
BARRYKAMINS, STIPULATION
AJusticeoftheSupremeCourt,2
nd
Judicial
District(QueensCounty).
THEFOLLOWINGIS HEREBYSTIPULATEDA1\TD AGREEDbyandbetween
RobertH. Tembeckjian,AdministratorandCounseltotheCommission, andtheHonorable
BarryKaminsandhisattorney,PaulShechtmanofZuckermanSpaeder,LLP, as follows:
1. BarryKaminshasbeenajudgesince2008,whenhewasappointedtotheNew
YorkCityCriminalCourtbyMayorMichaelR. Bloomberg.
A. In2009,hewasappointedAdministrativeJudgefortheCriminalCourtsin
KingsCounty.
B. In2012,hewasappointedAdministrativeJudgeforthe CriminalCourtsof
NewYorkCity.
C. InNovember2012, JudgeKaminswas electedtotheSupremeCourt(Kings
County). Ayearlater,uponreachingtheretirementageof70,hewas
certificatedtoservetwoyears,throughDecember2015. Hewouldbeeligible
fortwoadditionaltwo-yearcertifications,whichwouldpermithimtoserve
through2019,theyearheturns76,beyondwhichcertificationsarenot
permittedundertheConstitution.
D. In 2013, JudgeKaminswasnamedChiefof PolicyandPlanningfortheNew
YorkStateCourts.
2. OnMay29,2014,theCommissionreceivedareportoftheNewYorkCity
DepartmentofInvestigations(DOl),alleginginter alia thatJudgeKaminshadengagedin
misconduct. Acopyofthereportis appendedasExhibit 1.
3. OnMay30,2014,theCommission,onits ownmotion, authorizedan
investigationofJudgeKamins'sallegedmisconduct,basedupontheDOl report. Acopyof
theAdministrator'sComplaint, executedinfurtherance oftheCommission'sactionand
datedMay30,2014, is appendedasExhibit2. TheCommissioninterviewedwitnesses,
revieweddocumentsandheardfrom JudgeKamins.
4. OnJune2,2014,ChiefAdministrativeJudgeA. GailPrudentiannouncedthat
JudgeKaminshadbeenrelievedofhisdutiesas anadministrativejudgeandas Chiefof
PolicyandPlanning. Hewas subsequentlyassignedtohearmattersinSupremeCourt, Civil
Term, QueensCounty.
5. JudgeKaminsaversthatonOctober 1,2014,hewillsubmitthe appropriate
paperstotheOfficeofCourtAdministrationandtheNewYorkStateandLocalRetirement
System, statingthathewillrelinquishhisjudicialpositiononDecember 1, 2014.
6. Pursuantto Section47 oftheJudiciaryLaw,theCommissionhas 120daysfrom
thedateofajudge'sresignationto completeproceedings,andiftheCommissiondetermines
thatthejudgeshouldberemovedfrom office, file adeterminationwiththeCourtofAppeals.
7. JudgeKaminsaffirmsthat, uponvacatinghis officepursuanttothis Stipulation,
hewillneitherseeknoracceptjudicialofficeatanytimeinthefuture.
8. Uponexecutionofthis Stipulationbythesignatoriesbelow,thisStipulationwill
bepresentedtotheCommissionwiththejointrecommendationthatthematterbeconcluded,
2
by the terms of this Stipulation, without further proceedings, pending verification that Judge
Kamins filed the appropriate papers on October 1, 2014.
9. Judge Kamins understands that, should he abrogate the terms of this Stipulation
by, for example, failing to submit the appropriate papers on October 1, 2014, or holding any
judicial position at any time after December 1, 2014, the Commission's investigation of the
complaint against him would be revived, he would be served with a Formal Written
Complaint on authorization of the Commission, and the matter would proceed to a hearing
before a referee.
10. Judge Kamins waives confidentiality as provided by Section 45 of the Judiciary
Law, to the extent that (1) this Stipulation will become public on October 1, 2014, and (2) the
Commission's Decision and Order regarding this Stipulation will become public on or after
October 1,2014.
Dated:
Dated:
Dated:
L^CDassist l-*WUAA.
Honorable Bar Kamins
Paul Shechtman
Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP
Attorney for Judge Kamins
Robert H. Tembeckjian
Administrator and Counsel to the Commission
(Mark Levine and Mary Farrington,
Of Counsel)
September 9, 2014
September 9, 2014
September 9, 2014