Petersburgh town judge resigns amid misconduct allegations

PETERSBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A judge in Rensselaer County has resigned following allegations of misconduct. According to court transcripts, Richard Snyder got out of jury duty in 2023 by claiming that he couldn't be impartial because he thought everyone brought before a court is guilty.

He had been a justice of the Petersburgh Town Court for nearly a decade. At a judicial commission hearing the following year, Snyder acknowledged that defendants are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty but stated that he still felt that people wouldn't be in court if they didn't commit crimes.

Snyder has agreed to never serve as a judge again.