{"id":54176,"date":"2024-06-17T21:29:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T01:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=54176"},"modified":"2024-06-17T21:29:00","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T01:29:00","slug":"genesee-county-town-justice-in-genesee-county-resigns-while-under-investigation-for-sexual-harassment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/06\/17\/genesee-county-town-justice-in-genesee-county-resigns-while-under-investigation-for-sexual-harassment\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Town Justice in Genesee County resigns while under investigation for sexual harassment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press Release\/NEW YORK STATE
COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Nowakowski, a Justice of the Bethany Town Court, Genesee County, resigned while under investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2024, the Commission apprised Judge Nowakowski that it was investigating a complaint alleging that he had sexually harassed a court clerk, and that after the clerk told him to stop sending her inappropriate text messages unrelated to court business, the judge retaliated by seeking to have her employment with the court terminated.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Nowakowski resigned from office on June 1, 2024, and agreed never to seek or accept judicial office at any time in the future. The Commission accepted a stipulation to that effect signed by the judge, his attorney and the Commission\u2019s Administrator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The Stipulation was signed on June 4, 2024. The Commission issued an order accepting it on
June 13, 2024.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Nowakowski waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the limited extent that the stipulation and Commission\u2019s order accepting it would be public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Nowakowski, who is not an attorney, has been a Justice of the Bethany Town Court since 2022. His current term would have expired on December 31, 2025.
The stipulation and the Commission\u2019s order can be found on the Commission\u2019s
website: www.cjc.ny.gov<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statement by Commission Administrator
Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian made the following statement.
\u201cThere is no place for sexual harassment in the courts, particularly among the
judiciary, who must set and exemplify the highest standards of conduct for all to
emulate. The Commission considers such matters seriously and takes action as
appropriate and necessary.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statistics Relating to Prior Commission Decisions
The Commission has accepted 135 such permanent resignation stipulations since
the procedure was instituted in 2003.
Since 1978, the Commission has also issued 283 determinations of admonition
against judges in New York State, 351 determinations of censure and 183
determinations of removal.
The Court of Appeals has reviewed 102 Commission determinations. The Court
accepted the Commission\u2019s sanctions in 86 cases (77 of which were removals, six
were censures and three were admonitions). Of the remaining 16 cases, two
sanctions were increased from censure to removal, and 13 were reduced: nine
removal determinations were modified to censure, one removal was modified to
admonition, two censures were modified to admonition, and one censure was
rejected and the charges dismissed. The Court remitted one matter to the
Commission for further proceedings.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counsel
Judge Nowakowski was represented by Daniel M. Killelea, of Gilmour & Killelea,
LLP, 11198 Alexander Road, Attica, New York 14011, (585) 937-8987.
The Commission was represented by Deputy Administrator John J. Postel, Senior
Attorney David M. Duguay, and Senior Investigator Betsy Sampson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background Information on Judge Nowakowski
First took office: 2022
Current term expires: December 31, 2025
Members of the Commission
The Commission members serve four-year terms. A list of members is noted
below.
The Public File
The stipulation and order are attached.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEMBERS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT
Member Appointing Authority Term End
Joseph W. Belluck, Esq., Chair Governor Kathy Hochul March 31, 2028
Taa Grays, Esq., Vice Chair Senate President Pro Tem Andrea Stewart-Cousins March 31, 2027
Hon. Fernando M. Camacho Chief Judge Rowan Wilson March 31, 2028
Brian C. Doyle, Esq. Senate Minority Leader Robert G. Ortt March 31, 2028
Hon. John A. Falk Former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore March 31, 2025
Hon. Robert J. Miller Governor Kathy Hochul March 31, 2026
Nina M. Moore, Ph.D. Governor Kathy Hochul March 31, 2027
Marvin Ray Raskin, Esq. Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie March 31, 2026
Graham B. Seiter, Esq. Assembly Minority Leader William A. Barclay March 31, 2025
Hon. Anil C. Singh Chief Judge Rowan Wilson March 31, 2026
Akosua Garcia Yeboah Former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo March 31, 202<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Press Release\/NEW YORK STATECOMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT Joseph Nowakowski, a Justice of the Bethany Town Court, Genesee County, resigned while under investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. In February 2024, the Commission apprised Judge Nowakowski that it was investigating a complaint alleging that he had sexually \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[328],"tags":[4404],"class_list":["post-54176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bethany","tag-joseph-nowakowski"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-e5O","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":73365,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/18\/perry-police-report-leicester-woman-jailed-after-incident-in-a-vehicle\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":0},"title":"PERRY POLICE REPORT\/Leicester woman jailed after incident in a vehicle","author":"aka","date":"March 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"(Information and photo from a provided press release) Perry, NY - Chief Michael J. Grover reports the arrest of 28-year-old Alyssa L. Nowakowski from Leicester, NY. On March 17th, 2026, at approximately 09:24p.m., the Perry Police Department responded to a call of a possible roadside domestic incident occurring on Genesee\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot_20260318_140923_Outlook-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19058,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/08\/25\/wyoming-county-sheriffs-report-east-bethany-woman-charged-after-report-of-suspicious-vehicles-parked-roadside-for-several-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":1},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT\/East Bethany woman charged after report of suspicious vehicles parked roadside for several days","author":"aka","date":"August 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"On August 14, 2020, at around 5:30p.m., deputies were checking the area of Ryan Road, in the Town of Warsaw, for the report of two suspicious vehicles parked on the side of the roadway for the last couple of days. A Wyoming County Sheriff\u2019s Office investigator, driving an unmarked vehicle,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wyoming County"","block_context":{"text":"Wyoming County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wyoming-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":70885,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/12\/12\/wyoming-county-sheriffs-report-december-12-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":2},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT\/December 12, 2025","author":"aka","date":"December 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Austin Nowakowski, 26, of Orangeville, NY, was arrested following a domestic dispute that occurredon December 5th, 2025. The dispute occurred at a residence in the Town of Orangeville. Nowakowski reportedly damaged several pieces of property while engaging in a physical altercation with several subjects. Nowakowski reportedly menaced his family members\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wyoming County"","block_context":{"text":"Wyoming County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wyoming-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NOWAKOWSKI-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NOWAKOWSKI-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NOWAKOWSKI-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NOWAKOWSKI-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55419,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/04\/genesee-county-nys-comptroller-update-on-alexander-town-clerk-arrest\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/NYS Comptroller update on Alexander Town Clerk arrest","author":"aka","date":"August 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release\/July 26, 2024 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Genesee County District Attorney Kevin T. Finnell, and the New York State Police announced the arrest of Shannon Tiede, the clerk of the Town of Alexander, for allegedly stealing nearly $3,000 from the town and altering town records to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alexander"","block_context":{"text":"Alexander","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/alexander\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10729,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/08\/22\/genesee-county-sheriffs-report-inmate-found-with-a-razor-blade-at-jail\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT\/Inmate found with a razor blade at jail","author":"aka","date":"August 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Andrew A. Said, 50, an inmate at the Genesee County Jail, is charged with promoting prison contraband 1st after allegedly being found to have illegally possessed a razor blade while confined to a correctional facility, the Genesee County Jail, on August 14, 2019. Said was arraigned in City Court on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10368,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/07\/30\/genesee-county-alexander-town-clerk-resigns-her-position-after-petition-issue\/","url_meta":{"origin":54176,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY Alexander Town Clerk resigns her position after petition issue","author":"aka","date":"July 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Lisa Lyons, 42, of Alexander Rd., Attica, has resigned her position as Alexander Town Clerk and will not seek any other endorsements after her appearance in Batavia City Court last week. Lyons subscribed as a witness to a petition for the designation of herself as the Republican candidate for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alexander"","block_context":{"text":"Alexander","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/alexander\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54177,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54176\/revisions\/54177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}