Monroe County Executive Adam Bello filed a complaint against a Rochester City Court Judge, accusing the individual of not upholding “the integrity and independence of the judiciary.”
The complaint was filed against Judge Michael C. Lopez in a letter on Sept. 5.
Lopez has served as a city court judge for Rochester since January 2019. He currently has preliminary jurisdiction over cases involving defendants with felonies in Rochester. We called and are working to get comment from Judge Lopez or his office.
Bello: Judge’s actions ‘a direct threat’ to public safety
In the letter Bello made a reference to a court case on Charles Evans who was arrested and charged with felony drug charges and two misdemeanors. Evans also had nine prior felony convictions, five prior parole revocations and a failure to appear in court.
According to Bello, Evans appeared before Lopez on Sept. 3 and was told who his attorney was going to be but that his attorney was unavailable to appear at the time. Lopez allegedly then overturned the bail determination and released Evans.
Bello’s complaint also went on to mention how the prosecutor objected, citing how Evan’s attorney was not present and that nobody asked the judge to entertain a bail application. Bello accused Lopez of ignoring these arguments.
According to Bello, this case is one of the most recent examples showing how Lopez has improperly taken it upon himself to review the bail decision of another judge of concurrent jurisdiction without a request from the defendant’s attorney.
“Judge Lopez’s actions are outrageous and a direct threat to the safety of our community. Law enforcement is doing its job – arresting violent offenders and working to keep families safe – only to have those efforts undermined by reckless court decisions made by a local judge,” Bello said in a statement. “This complaint is about protecting innocent people from violent offenders and from judges who act in defiance their ethical obligations.”
Mayor Evans supports complaint
Mayor Malik Evans released the following statement in regards to the complaint:
In order to uphold the integrity of the court system and protect the safety of our community, we must hold judges accountable. I supported the county executive’s efforts in the formation of the CAP court for the City of Rochester and surrounding towns. To have one judge overturn another judge’s decision, without any formal request or motion to do so, is not acceptable and is not in the public’s interest. The county executive is expressing concerns that many people in our community are voicing, especially related to crimes being committed by repeat offenders.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bello: Rochester judge’s bail ruling ‘reckless’ and endangers public safety
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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