New York City Judge Censured for Conduct During Court Experiment

A New York City judge has been admonished by a state judicial ethics commission for pulling out a pistol in court during a test to challenge a police officer's ability to identify a weapon. Judge Jeffrey Gershuny used his personal gun in an incident that took place on August 5, 2025, during a felony gun case hearing. He attempted to deceive the testifying officer by hiding the gun on the ground and placing a stapler in a shopping bag instead. The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC) stated that this action undermined public confidence in the integrity of the courts. CJC administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian emphasized the importance of judges being honest and above-board. Gershuny's actions were described as an elaborate deception that aimed to trick a witness on a significant evidentiary matter. Despite objections from court officers, he proceeded with the experiment, falsely representing the stapler as a gun. The CJC noted that Gershuny cooperated with their investigation and recommended censure, urging court administrators to review rules regarding judges carrying weapons in courthouses.