Leaders within the Brooklyn Democratic Party have allegedly amassed nearly $200,000 in campaign donations and payments from judges and judicial candidates since 2012, a practice that critics are calling a pay-to-play "shakedown" for nominations.
Frank Seddio, the former chairman of the Brooklyn party, and current chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, along with allies, have collected these funds from over 90 judges and judicial candidates, according to records. Insiders claim that sitting judges may have circumvented regulations intended to keep them separate from partisan politics, while other sources suggest candidates face pressure to attend party events and contribute to vendors or risk losing their nominations.
Ben Weinberg, public policy director for the watchdog group Citizens Union, stated, "The public's confidence in the courts is undermined when judges appear dependent on party organizations for political support, endorsements, or advancement." He added that current legal frameworks for judicial candidates' political contributions, which generally allow the purchase of two tickets to political events for a maximum of $250 each, are being circumvented.
Empire State judges and judicial candidates are subject to strict guidelines regarding political contributions. However, sitting judges running for county judge seats are permitted to purchase two tickets to events within specific timeframes around primary or nominating events, provided they make "public declarations" of their candidacy. This process, initiated by a letter to the state's chief administrative judge, authorizes them to make these contributions. A spokesperson for the Office of Court Administration confirmed that donations in question were authorized within these parameters, though they did not provide a list of specific authorizations when requested.
Sources within the party suggest that judges can continue donating by repeatedly declaring their candidacy for county seats annually and reapplying after a party convention endorses another candidate. Weinberg argued that this practice contradicts the law's intent, stating, "The whole purpose of limiting the window in which judicial candidates can actively campaign is to keep their political and fundraising activity to a bare minimum, walling them off from partisan politics." He contends that "finding workarounds to effectively campaign every year and continuously donate to politicians makes these restrictions moot."
Records also indicate that Bichotte-Hermelyn's Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club collected over $53,000 from 24 judges and judicial candidates since 2013. These payments were largely categorized as "petition expenses." However, the filings allegedly lacked specific expense details to verify that candidates only covered their share of costs, which is the only legal justification for such payments. It is also possible that other payments exist outside of public records.
Political clubs like the Thomas Jefferson Club and Seneca Club are not registered as political committees. Alex Camarda, a senior policy adviser for government reform group Reinvent Albany, criticized the situation, stating, "Only the Board of Elections’ longstanding meek enforcement lets judges, judicial candidates and political clubs ignore basic campaign finance rules." The state Board of Elections did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Seddio, who is facing lawsuits alleging investor fraud, denied that judicial donations influenced his endorsement process. "I seek qualification, responsibility and competency in my determination as to who would serve as a good judge," he stated. "I’d like to think those candidates that I have supported in the past or appear to have met and now serve with that qualifying commitment of good service."
Bichotte-Hermelyn categorically denied that donations impact the county's judicial endorsements, asserting that she has adhered to all campaign finance laws. The Commission for Judicial Conduct, responsible for overseeing these donations, did not comment but requested a copy of the information compiled by The Post. This body had previously cautioned nearly 50 judges over federal political contributions following a 2023 memo from Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas warning about such donations.
Weinberg is calling for a broader investigation into the alleged practices, suggesting that a special prosecutor might be necessary to address what he described as "deeply entrenched rot." He concluded, "Courts must be independent, and the selection of judges should not be shaped by political donations or loyalty to party leadership."