A Canandaigua Town Court judge has been suspended while New York’s highest court considers whether he should be permanently removed from the bench over findings that he used a racial slur and engaged in other misconduct.
The state Court of Appeals ordered the immediate suspension of Justice Walter W. Jones, 82, on Thursday, placing him on paid leave as it reviews his appeal of a State Commission on Judicial Conduct recommendation that he be removed and barred from serving as a judge again.
The commission’s findings center on a May 10, 2024 incident, when Jones was accused of repeatedly using the “n-word” while recounting a story to two court employees in a parking lot after court. According to investigators, Jones referred multiple times to a Black man known to his family using the slur, though Jones said he used the word only once and defended it as necessary for “authenticity and accuracy.”
Days later, on May 15, 2024, the commission said Jones made a remark during court proceedings suggesting a defendant had “played the race card” after she alleged her bail was set higher because she is Black.
The commission concluded the conduct violated judicial ethics standards and warranted removal from office. Jones is now challenging that determination before the Court of Appeals, which will decide whether to uphold the recommendation or impose a lesser sanction.
The case also highlights prior disciplinary history. Jones was cautioned in 2021 for directing a court clerk to contact a complaining witness about restitution in a pending matter. He was again cautioned in March 2024 over issues related to court administration and financial management.
Jones has served on the Canandaigua Town Court since 1999 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1973. His current term is set to expire at the end of 2027.
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