gag/M 9/z fza 3/144? October 29, 2018 Dennis Quirk President NYS Court Of?cers Association 321 Broadway New York, NY 10007 Dear Mr. Quirk: On the evening of October 23, 2018, I attended the Uni?ed Court System?s 23rd Annual Cervantes Society Program at the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street. The event was a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month a chance to celebrate the achievements ofa wonderful part of our diverse court family, and to join in honoring two of our court of?cers receiving awards for their humanitarian efforts to aid suffering Puerto Ricans in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As I approached the courthouse, I witnessed a group of approximately 60 persons (who I am told were court of?cers) gathered at the foot of the courthouse steps, together with two large in?atable ?gures; some in the crowd carried placards; many chanted ?more court of?cers? as I passed by. Many court of?cers in the crowd were wearing blue shirts that displayed, together with the image of a scale of justice, the following text in large and readily?readable white typeface: OCA Of?ce of Court Administration Organized Crime Association Beaver Street Bullies I understand that you and a fellow union president personally organized and led this event. 1 am also informed that within moments of my entry into the courthouse, the in?ated ?gures were de?ated and removed, and the crowd dispersed. Thus, the entire event, including the ?organized crime association" message, was clearly directed at me both in my capacity as ChiefJudge ofthe State ofNew York, with responsibility for overseeing OCA, and as the ?rst Chief Judge of Italian-American descent in State history. yd <2 I. [40/ . If 11L . 7 v.7 9:45 f, to. 675%.; ?311,. J. an we (I Public airing of workplace grievances is of course acceptable, permitted and encouraged. However, by any conceivable standard of conduct applicable to court employees, the use of ethnic stereotypes is completely improper and unacceptable. The public display by court personnel, on or off duty, of a message that invokes and perpetuates vile and insidious ethnic stereotypes whether, as here, directed at an Italian-American or at any other group of people who historically have been subjected to such discriminatory tactics -- is simply malicious and offensive. Such comments are not only harmful to the individuals attacked; they degrade all members of the attacked ethnic group. Moreover, by insinuating that I, as Chief Judge of the New York State courts, preside over an ?organized crime association,? you have publicly attacked the integrity of our entire court family every single judge, of?cer and employee who works hard and with integrity every day to serve the public and earn their trust and con?dence. By stooping to such grossly offensive stereotypes in the guise of airing your members? concerns, you have actually done them a terrible disservice, tarnishing the proud standing of all our uniformed court of?cers, whose dedication and hard work I have publicly acknowledged on innumerable occasions. Indeed, their dignity and professionalism belie the lack of decency you displayed on October 23, 2018. It is not my habit to become personally involved with the public conduct of employee leadership in the court system. Such matters are generally left in the hands of the State?s Chief Administrative Judge and other administrators, in whom I have the utmost con?dence. But on this singular occasion I must intercede. I speak on behalf of the entire Italian-American community, and the thousands of professional and digni?ed members of our court family, when I call on you to issue a public apology for your degrading and disrespectful conduct. Very truly yours,