The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct released a report on Monday calling for the admonishment of an Ontario County Court judge accused of attempting to influence another judge's handling of a criminal matter.
The commission alleges that in January 2025, Judge Kristina Karle contacted another judge by phone and text message regarding the arraignment of her friend's daughter. The report states that Karle "immediately referred to her judicial title" and asked the arraigning judge to hold the defendant and set bail.
Karle said she was concerned for the defendant, who she said faced life struggles including homelessness and drug addiction, the commission report states. Karle, according to the report, believed the defendant could get treatment
if they were held on bail.
The arraigning judge was "uncomfortable" with the communication with Karle and recused themselves before getting guidance from the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics and reporting it to the Commission on Judicial Conduct, the report states.
The commission stated that Karle apologized to the arraigning judge and self-reported her conduct to the commission.
Efforts to reach Karle and her attorney were not immediately successful.
Who is Kristina Karle?
In 2018, Kristina "Kitty" Karle became the first woman elected to serve as Ontario County Court Judge. Previously, Karle served as an assistant district attorney in Erie County and Monroe County from 1998 to 2011. By the end of her tenure at the Monroe County District Attorney's Office, she had risen to bureau chief of the special victims unit.
She ran unsuccessfully in 2025 for state Supreme Court in the Seventh Judicial District, but has served the past several years as an acting state Supreme Court justice.
Karle has been presiding this year over the Ontario County Court cases regarding the seven defendants charged with torturing and murdering 24-year-old Sam Nordquist, a Black trans man, in 2025.
Commission: 'Judge Karle was wrong'
In its determination, the commission commended the arraigning judge for their response to the incident and found that Karle's conduct "brought reproach upon the judiciary and violated her ethical obligations."
"Public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary is undermined when one judge interferes in another judge’s handling of a case on behalf of a friend," Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian stated in the news release. "Judge Karle was wrong to call and try to influence a colleague’s bail decision."
Added the statement: "The average defendant or citizen does not have such access. It is to the credit of the arraigning judge that Judge Karle’s misconduct was rebuffed and reported to the Commission."
What happened in Judge Karle case?
According to the Commission's determination, Karle was served a written complaint in April 2026 with one charge.
The complaint alleged that on Jan. 24, 2025, Karle, as a favor to her sister, reached out to staff at another court and to another judge to get information on the arraignment of a family friend and request that bail be set. The commission stated that Karle "repeatedly invoked her judicial title" during these communications.
The determination states that the defendant is the daughter of a friend of Karle's sister and was scheduled to be arraigned in another court on Jan. 24, 2025. Karle, according to the determination, texted the arraigning judge, introducing herself as a county court judge in Ontario County and asked the judge to call her about the case involving Karle's family friend.
After some communication, the report states that Karle texted the arraigning judge writing, "My request if legally permissible please set bail and hold her. She is my sisters best friends daughter – she has severe drug addiction. Is down to like 76 pounds has frost bite – from living under a bridge in Rochester. Her family feels this may be the last chance to save her. She always runs – even from hospitals. We just want to save her life and get her dried out and potentially in to treatment if possible. Thank you so much. I can take a break from my trial if you wish to speak to me."
The arraigning judge immediately reached out to the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, which suggested the judge report Karle's conduct to the commission. The judge also texted Karle saying they were "uncomfortable" with the communication and "would recuse from the matter," the determination states.
Karle then responded to the judge, apologizing multiple times.
"I never meant to put you in a bad spot and I regret sincerely that I did. Please accept my apology," one of the messages she wrote said.
According to the determination, Karle quickly self-reported to the commission and cooperated with it. The commission stated that Karle accepted the recommended sanction of admonition and acknowledged her wrongdoing.
"Respondent immediately apologized to the other judge and self-reported her conduct to the Commission. We trust that respondent has learned from this experience and in the future will act in strict accordance with her obligation to abide by all the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct," the Commission wrote in its determination.
Court of Appeals to review determination
The determination that Karle should be admonished now sits with the chief judge of New York state's highest court, the Court of Appeals.
According to the news release, the commission was notified Karle had received the determination on Oct. 23, and she now has 30 days to either accept or make a written request to the chief judge for review. If Karle does not request a review, the commission will admonish her as written in the determination.
If Karle chooses to have the determination reviewed by the Court of Appeals, the court could accept the determined sanction, impose a different sanction, including censure or removal, or decide to not impose any sanction.
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ontario County judge accused of trying to influence another judge
