Petersburgh judge resigns after he said he couldn’t be impartial when summoned for grand jury

A Petersburgh town justice has resigned from the bench after he admitted that he told prosecutors that he couldn’t be impartial in order to get out of jury duty.
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct last week accepted the resignation of Richard Snyder effective Dec. 31, 2024.
Snyder has been a town justice since 2014.
At issue were comments he made during a summons in Rensselaer County on Oct. 18, 2023 for grand jury duty. He told the presiding judge that he did not think he could serve because of his work as a town justice. The judge said justices are not exempt from jury duty. Then, he said he “believes anyone who comes before him is guilty and therefore he could not be impartial.”
Snyder’s remarks led to him being called to testify before the commission. He repeatedly stated that same opinion that people before him “did something wrong” even if they are presumed innocent.
“I know they are guilty. They would not be in front of me,” he said.
Snyder also serves as primary caregiver for his two grandchildren, which was also a factor in why he did not want to serve.
He described himself as a “nervous wreck” talking toward the judge.
“I like my job. I’m honest. I never had a problem in my life,” he told the commission.
Still, the commission had serious concerns about his statements. He was also criticized for not recording all of the court proceedings.
Snyder had one year left in his term.
The Times Union was first to report the story.