ALBANY, N.Y. — Richard T. Snyder, an upstate New York judge, has resigned from his position in the Petersburgh Town Court following controversial remarks he made while attempting to avoid jury duty. In a case illustrating significant concerns about judicial impartiality, Snyder stated he could not serve as a juror because he believed anyone appearing in front of him was guilty. His claims led to disciplinary actions and ultimately his resignation from the bench, which he had held for nearly a decade. According to a formal complaint from the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Snyder was dismissed from jury service in October 2023 when he first identified himself as a judge and argued, “I know everybody come in front of me. I know they are guilty. They would not be in front of me.” After continuing to assert his inability to be impartial, he was reported by the presiding judge to state officials. In subsequent statements, Snyder acknowledged the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" but expressed his belief that those brought to court must have committed a crime. "They’re innocent ’til proven guilty,” he conceded, “but they did something wrong. That’s why they got a ticket.” These assertions led the commission to conclude there was no place for someone with such a misunderstanding of judicial responsibilities. The resignation coincides with a broader examination of judicial conduct in New York, where improper statements and behavior have led to multiple cases before state officials. Since the procedure allowing resignation stipulations was introduced in 2003, New York has accepted 146 such agreements under which judges resign and agree not to pursue judicial positions in the future. Tembeckjian, the administrator of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, criticized Snyder's stance, stating, "It is astounding that the judge would claim an inability to be impartial, and to declare under oath that the accused must be guilty or they would not be in court." In New York, all citizens, including judges, are required to serve on juries unless specifically excused for valid reasons. Public records indicate that Snyder is not an attorney and he has pledged to never serve as a judge again. Petersburgh, the town he served, has a small population of around 1,400 residents and is located near New York's border with Vermont and Massachusetts. His departure has raised questions about justice and the role of judges in maintaining a fair legal process. For more details, visit AP News, HuffPost, Newsweek, and CBS News.