(Photo: Jason Doiy and S. Todd Rogers/ALM)

Former New York Supreme Court Justice Matthew A. Rosenbaum abruptly resigned last month amid allegations that he abused staff and created a hostile workplace environment throughout his 14 years on the bench, a state disciplinary panel said Wednesday.

Rosenbaum was reelected in November to serve as a judge in Rochester, a position he had held from 2005 to 2019, but vacated his chambers late last year and had not resumed his duties since Dec. 31. His new 14-year term had been set to begin Jan. 1.

According to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Rosenbaum learned after Jan. 1 that he was being investigated for making "improper and at times abusive personal demands of court staff" and threatening to fire them if they did not comply. He agreed in a Jan. 13 stipulation with the commission that he would never again seek or accept any judicial office.

The alleged misconduct spanned his entire 15 years in office, the SCJC said.

The Office of Court Administration announced Rosenbaum's decision to step down Dec. 28. The disciplinary matter was referred to the SCJC, but the complaint was not made public. The OCA said it had reassigned all of Rosenbaum's cases and was conducting its own investigation through its inspector general. The disciplinary matter was referred to the SCJC for further proceedings.

In a prepared statement, Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said that allegations against Rosenbaum warranted further action beyond securing his resignation.

"A judge may not make abusive personal or professional demands on court staff or otherwise create a hostile workplace environment," Tembeckjian said. "The matter against Judge Rosenbaum was of such magnitude that, notwithstanding his resignation, it was important to make sure he would never return to the bench."

Robert Julian, an attorney for Rosenbaum, did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.

A spokesman for the OCA confirmed that its investigation remained "ongoing and active" but declined to comment any further.

According to the OCA's earlier statement in December, the case could be referred to Monroe County district attorney, "should the investigation sustain it."

Rosenbaum was appointed to the bench by Gov. George Pataki in 2005, and was elected to a full term the following year. A graduate of Boston University School of Law, he is the son of Richard Rosenbaum, a former Supreme Court justice who died last year.

His seat, in the the Seventh Judicial District, covers eight counties in Western New York, including Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates.

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