FALLSBURG — The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has released its findings earlier this month on the case against former Fallsburg Town Justice Court Judge Amanda Ward.

Ward had resigned from her position, effective as of October 31, 2020, after being served with the New York State Commission's charges.

According to the commission, Ward was charged with a “disqualifying conflict with a party or witness and failing to disclose and/or recuse herself as required.”

The formal written complaint was filed on November 13, 2020. According to the stipulation, Ward agreed to resign over the matter and has also agreed to never seek or accept a judicial office at any time in the future.

“Judges are disqualified by promulgated ethics rules from presiding over cases in which their ‘impartiality might reasonably be questioned.' In certain instances, if they disclose the disqualifying interest, the parties may agree to waive the judge's recusal. On being charged with presiding and not disclosing conflicts with a party or witness, Judge Ward agreed never to be a judge again,” said Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian.

Ward was elected as Fallsburg Town Court Justice in 2015, and her term was set to expire on December 31, 2023.

Ward is also listed on The Center for Discovery website as the Chief, Division of People Operations and Educational Sustainability.

Moreover, Ward has a Juris Doctorate from Hofstra School of Law and has taught Constitutional Law, Health Care Law, Ethics, Business Law, and Juvenile Justice at SUNY Sullivan.

The Democrat reached out to Ward and her attorney, Stephen Coffey, for comment on the resignation but they did not respond by presstime.

The Town of Fallsburg already has a new Town Justice, Jamie Kaminski. Judge Kaminski was appointed by the Fallsburg town board for the remainder of the year and will need to run for election this year if he so chooses.

Fallsburg Supervisor Ste­ven Vegliante said at a town board meeting in November 2020, “We did hold several interviews with people that were interested in the judicial position.”

Judge Kaminski is also the Director of Security and Risk at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and was sworn in as Town Justice at the Fallsburg town board meeting in January 2021.

In a previous meeting, Vegliante said, “I think we have an excellent Judge in Jamie Kaminsky. He has a record, that is in my mind, stellar. I think you'll make us all proud.”