Attachments

20230201-121030-DeProspo.William.L.Release.2023-01-31.pdf

20230201-121024-DeProspo.William.L.2023.01.26.DEC.pdf

20230201-121015-DeProspo.William.L.2023.01.13.STIP.pdf

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — William L. DeProspo, a Judge of the Orange County Court, has agreed to leave office to resolve misconduct charges brought against him by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.  He also agreed never to seek or accept judicial office in the future. 

Judge DeProspo was charged in July 2022 with a Formal Written Complaint, alleging that he was disrespectful, disparaging, sarcastic and otherwise discourteous to petitioners while presiding over five separate Family Court matters. Among other things, the judge asked a petitioner, “What kind of kook are you?”; belittled her concern about missing school in order to be in court; said “everything that you told me was bullshit”; and told the petitioner to “get your ass out of bed and get here at 9:00 in the morning” or her petition would be dismissed and she could “ask the director [of your school] to protect you.”

Judge DeProspo has served as a Judge of the Orange County Court since 2018.  His current term would have expired on December 31, 2027.

STATEMENT BY COMMISSION ADMINISTRATOR ROBERT H. TEMBECKJIAN

“Judges are obliged to be patient, dignified and courteous toward those with whom they deal in an official capacity.  This is especially important in Family Court, which can be volatile enough without the judge making matters worse by insulting or demeaning the litigants.”

COUNSEL

Judge DeProspo was represented by Deborah A. Scalise, Esq.

The Commission was represented by Deputy Administrator Mark Levine, Senior Attorney Melissa DiPalo, Staff Attorney Adam Kahan, and Investigator Andrew Fenwick.