Blooming Grove – Judge To Refuse Himself From Chasidic Cases

Blooming Grove – Longtime town judge James E. Kenealy said he’s recusing himself from any cases involving Chasidic Jews because recent statements by the town supervisor might call into question his own impartiality.

It all started because of a construction dispute in Blooming Grove in which developers were suggesting town officials had treated them unfairly because they’re Chasidic. Supervisor Bohan, said that if Chasidic developers from neighboring Kiryas Yoel were going to make such claims, then, “The war is on.” 
Bohan called Kenealy’s statements “outright slander or libel” and said he’s asking the state Commission on Judicial Conduct to investigate Kenealy. He also suggested the judge’s clerk put him up to writing the memo because of a long-running salary dispute. But Kenealy said his recusal “has nothing to do with that at all.”