ALBANY - The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released two determinations of public discipline against judges of the State Unified Court System.

Paul M. Hensley, a District Court Judge (Suffolk County) should be censured for having attended and participated in a series of illegal poker games held at the clubhouse of a fraternal organization to which he belonged.  The facility had been rented to the organizer of the games.  The games were illegal because, among other things, the organizer kept a portion of the ante (i.e., "raked the pot"). 

Brian D. Mercy, a part-time Justice of the Glenville Town Court and Acting Justice of the Scotia Village Court (Schenectady County) should be  admonished for having practiced law in seven cases in the Niskayuna Town Court (Schenectady County), where the judges also serve part-time and practice law. 

Commission determinations may be challenged before the Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court.  However, since both Judges Hensley and Mercy agreed to the disciplines being imposed, it is unlikely either one would appeal the Commission's ruling.

Copies of the Commission's determinations and accompanying press releases are attached.  These documents, and the stipulations signed by the judges, are also available on the Commission's website at www.cjc.ny.gov.