Court Removes Judge Who Favored Step-Grandkids

ALBANY, N.Y. (CN) – The New York Appellate Division removed Dennis LaBombard as Town Court Justice of the city of Ellenburg.     LaBombard lost his position as a result of four abuses of his authority.     First, he presided over a criminal trespassing case involving his step-grandchildren. He adjourned the case and failed to make them perform community service.      Second, he used his influence to put in a good word for his step-grandchild, who faced felony charges in another court.     Third, LaBombard refused to recuse himself from a case involving the son of one the judge’s former co-workers.     Finally, LaBombard got into a verbal altercation with a woman after a car collision. He repeatedly told her that he was a judge, and he continued to trumpet his judicial status after following her into a barber shop.