Editorial: Justice cloaked in secrecy

How does a judicial candidate get fired from her court system job for unbecoming behavior, only to find temporary work in the courts days after she's elected?

The OCA has no problem releasing a letter explaining why Ms. Ryba was fired Nov. 2, the day before the election, by Karen Peters, the presiding justice of the Albany-based Appellate Division of state Supreme Court.

Ms. Ryba, who had worked for Justice Peters as special projects counsel, was dismissed for campaign activity that included, in her boss' view, denigrating the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission in the 3rd Department, a screening panel that rates judicial candidates.

Ms. Ryba, a Democrat, had downplayed the panel's rating of her Republican opponent, Colonie Town Justice Norman Massry, as qualified.

[...] nine days after the election, she was hired for a position similar to her old one, only now working with Supreme Court Justice Michael Coccoma, deputy administrative judge for all courts outside New York City.