Clarkstown Justice Ugell Resigns After Complaints

Rockland Daily Staff 

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct released a decision dated June 5, 2023, that Scott B. Ugell, a Justice of the Clarkstown Town Court, Rockland County, resigned from office while under investigation and agreed to never seek or accept judicial office in the future. 

The resignation was tendered after the Commission apprised Judge Ugell in March 2023 that it was investigating a complaint that he presided over a landlord/tenant case without disclosing that an attorney in the case had personally represented him in an unrelated matter and for not affording the opposing party an opportunity to be heard.   

In April 2023, the Commission advised Judge Ugell it was investigating a second complaint, alleging that he became a candidate for Clarkstown Town Supervisor without resigning from his position as Clarkstown Town Justice.  

In May 2023, the Commission advised Judge Ugell it was investigating a third complaint, alleging that he testified falsely in a lawsuit claiming he was ineligible to run for town supervisor.

 Judge Ugell agreed to resign from office effective June 30, 2023, and never to seek or accept judicial office at any time in the future. 

"Public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the courts requires a judge to step aside in cases where there is a conflict, or disclose the conflict so the parties may request a new judge," Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said in the statement. "It also requires separating politics from the bench, meaning a judge must resign upon becoming a candidate for non-judicial office. And it should go without saying that, when called as a witness, a judge must always testify truthfully."

Judge Ugell served as a Justice of the Clarkstown Town Court since 1991. His current term would have expired on December 31, 2025.

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