Ossining Town Justice Leavitt reprimanded for asking judge to be lenient in his mail carrier’s parking ticket case

Benjamin Leavitt violated his ethical obligations, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct ruled.

Rob Taub

Oct 23, 2023, 9:15 PM

Updated 407 days ago

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An Ossining Town justice was reprimanded on Monday for trying to influence another judge to be lenient with his mail carrier who had received parking tickets unrelated to her job.
Benjamin Leavitt violated his ethical obligations, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct ruled.
The vote from the commission, which was 6-2 in favor, noted Leavitt has an unblemished career and promptly accepted responsibility for his conduct. Leavitt has been a justice since 2020 and his current term expires at the end of the year.
Leavitt in a statement said he was disappointed the commission did not issue a private letter of caution, and is grateful they found the lesser sanction of admonishment was sufficient to address a momentary lack of judgment by a lawyer and judge who has a record of more than 20 years without discipline or complaint of any kind.