ROCKLAND POST DESK
NEW CITY — A local judge who has served Rockland County for more than a decade announced she will resign from the bench this spring following an investigation into her conduct while presiding over cases.
Justice Sherri L. Eisenpress, a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District, agreed to retire effective April 28, 2026, under an agreement with the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. As part of the stipulation, she will not seek or accept a judicial position again.
The Commission began investigating Eisenpress’s actions after finding that she had failed to disclose personal relationships or conflicts of interest with several attorneys who appeared in her courtroom and had continued to oversee their cases.
According to the Commission’s review, Eisenpress socialized and traveled with lawyers and court staff while handling matters in which those individuals were involved. The inquiry found that she did not properly disclose those connections nor recuse herself from participating in the cases. At least 55 cases were identified where she presided despite the close personal ties.
The Commission’s administrator emphasized that judges must not only be impartial but also appear impartial to maintain public confidence in the courts.
Eisenpress began her judicial career as a Family Court judge in Rockland County in 2011 and later served as an acting Supreme Court justice before her election to the Supreme Court in 2023.
In announcing the agreement, the Commission closed the disciplinary case against her without a public hearing and without an admission of wrongdoing, but the stipulation’s terms will remain in place unless violated.
Residents and local officials have expressed mixed reactions to the news, with some stressing the importance of ethical standards in the judiciary and others recalling Eisenpress’s years of service. Many observers say the situation highlights the need for clear boundaries between personal relationships and court duties.
The press office for the Supreme Court in Rockland County declined further comment on pending cases, but court administrators say they are working to ensure a smooth transition for cases scheduled before Justice Eisenpress later this year.
If