A longtime Moravia town and village judge has resigned after a state Commission on Judicial Conduct investigation into more than $6,000 in missing funds.聽
June Shepardson resigned Aug. 31, according to a letter released by the commission. She had served as a town and village justice since June 2001.聽
Shepardson was suspended July 5 by Judge James Murphy, the deputy chief administrative judge for courts outside of New York City. Murphy's responsibilities include overseeing town and village courts.聽
A reason for Shepardson's suspension was not disclosed at the time. Cases pending before her were reassigned to Judge Sheila Hargett-Kemp, the other town and village justice in Moravia, and she was directed to surrender all case files. She also lost access to court case management and email systems.聽
People are also reading…
The released by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct reveals the investigation began after Shepardson allegedly "converted more than $6,000 in court funds" from the town and village of Moravia.
There was no other information provided about the missing funds or what Shepardson allegedly did with the money.聽
Shepardson agreed to resign and not seek judicial office in the future. If she does, the commission can resume the investigation into the complaint.聽
This is the third consecutive year that a Cayuga 69传媒 town judge has resigned amid a state investigation. In 2021, Mark DiVietro resigned as an Owasco town justice after being accused of having unauthorized communications during a 2019 case.
Last year, Phillip Franklin resigned as a Locke town justice after an investigation into "failing to account property for court funds," according to the Commission on Judicial Conduct.聽
Shepardson was active in organizations for town and village justices. She is a former president of the Cayuga 69传媒 Magistrates Association and served as a director of the state Magistrates Association.聽
A longtime Moravia town justice has been suspended; the state Commission on Judicial Conduct will decide her fate.聽
Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.