Clarkstown Justice Ugell Resigns During Judicial Conduct Investigation

NEW CITY, NY — Clarkstown Town Justice Scott B. Ugell has resigned while under investigation by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

According to a statement by commission officials, three complaints were filed against Judge Ugell this spring. They alleged:

1. 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.
2. He became a candidate for Clarkstown Town Supervisor without resigning from his position as Clarkstown Town Justice .
3. 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, and never to seek or accept judicial office at any time in the future, according to the Commission, which accepted a stipulation to that effect signed by the judge, his attorney, and the Commission’s Administrator.

The Commission has not rendered any substantive determinations as to the complaints, officials said in the stipulation.

"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."

According to the announcement, the Commission apprised Judge Ugell in March 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, 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.

The third complaint was based on a decision in King and Sweet versus Ugell, Rockland GOP Committee Chairman Lawrence Garvey and the Rockland County Board of Elections, alleging that Judge Ugell was improperly a candidate for election to the office of Clarkstown Town Supervisor. The complaint alleged that Judge Ugell testified falsely under oath at a hearing in the matter and thereafter testified falsely under oath in the ensuing litigation.

Judge Ugell said in a letter to the court on that matter that he had been given bad legal advice by Rockland GOP Chairman Lawrence Garvey, The Journal News reported.

The election-campaign lawsuits were related to Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann's lengthy and ultimately successful attempt to overturn the term-limit law he had supported so that he could run for a third term, as the GOP was concerned about having a candidate on the ballot in November.

Judge Ugell, who is an attorney, had been a Justice of the Clarkstown Town Court since 1991. His current term would have expired on Dec. 31, 2025.

According to the town website, he was Clarkstown’s youngest elected judge in modern Clarkstown Justice Court history. He had previously presided over a special Domestic Violence Court and served along with Family Court Judges and other local Judges and staff members. A New City resident, he has been involved in many charitable and social organizations.

The Commission’s order closing the matter, the stipulation and a press release are attached and can be found on the Commission’s website.

Judge Ugell waived the statutory provision of confidentiality applicable to Commission proceedings, to the limited extent that the stipulation and Commission’s order accepting it would be public.

He was represented by Deborah A. Scalise, Esq.

The Commission was represented by Deputy Administrator Mark Levine, Principal Attorney Jennifer L. Lowry, and Investigator Kieran Rock.