A town justice in Western New York has resigned after he, among other violations, called Gov. Andrew Cuomo "corrupt," criticized other public officials and local residents, and made other political statements in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.

Gary Chamberlain, who's been a justice of the Freedom Town Court in Cattaraugus County for nearly a decade, agreed not to seek judicial office again in New York state.

Chamberlain, who's not an attorney, agreed to leave the bench last month while he was under investigation by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, which announced his resignation and its probe into his conduct Tuesday.

Aside from the public comments he made in a local newspaper, Chamberlain was also accused of choosing not to enforce a town ordinance related to the storage of "junk" at residential properties and failing to inform a defendant of his due process rights.

While those violations started two years ago, it wasn't until last October that Chamberlain sent a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, which wasn't named by the commission.

Chamberlain, in the letter, described Cuomo as "corrupt" at a time when Cuomo was seeking his third term in office. He also criticized a series of executive decisions and policies instituted by Cuomo during his time in office, according to the commission.

The letter also, according to the commission, made other statements that appeared to be political or partisan in nature and criticized public officials and town residents over a localized issue. Details were not provided on Chamberlain's specific statements.

Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said in a statement that Chamberlain's actions impeded on the public's confidence in him to be impartial on the bench.

"A judge must be and appear fair, impartial and faithful to the law if the public is to have confidence in the courts," Tembeckjian said. "Competently applying ordinances and advising litigants of their fundamental rights, as well as avoiding partisan politics, are among the many ways a judge is expected to fulfill that mandate."

Chamberlain was represented before the commission by Daniel Killelea, a name partner at Gilmour & Killelea in Attica. Killelea did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the commission's determination.

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