LI Judge Resigns Amid Sexism, Favoritism Investigation: State

MANORHAVEN, NY — A Long Island village justice stepped down from his bench while under investigation for sexism and favoritism, the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct officials announced in a news release on Monday.

Former Manorhaven village justice Peter Gallanter was informed in March the commission was investigating complaints that he “repeatedly described female litigants and lawyers in demeaning sexist terms," and dismissed or reduced the tickets of people with whom he had personal relationships in "multiple cases," according to a stipulation between the commission administration and Gallanter.

The commission was also looking into a complaint that he "improperly" used a video camera to tape proceedings in his courtroom, the stipulation states.

Gallanter, a village justice since 2008 who resigned April 5, has agreed not to accept office again, according to the stipulation. The commission has since closed its investigation, the document states.

Gallanter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jim Roman has been appointed village justice and he plans to run for the post in the village's June election, Newsday reported.

In an April 8 statement, village Mayor Jim Avena said the investigation had did not have anything to do with "any other part of our village government or any other village official," the news outlet reported.

He went on to say that Gallanter "alone" is responsible for "whatever issues the state is investigating," adding, "Any attempt to shift responsibility for this or blame his predicament on others is completely without merit."