JUDGE ROBIN GARSON

Garson's wife may face rap on ethics
BY NANCIE L. KATZDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, April 30th 2007, 4:00 AM

The wife of disgraced Brooklyn judge Gerald Garson, who was convicted this month of accepting bribes for fixing divorce cases, could be soon facing her own legal problems, the Daily News has learned.

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct may begin investigating possible judicial ethical lapses by Robin Garson, a Civil Court judge, involving campaign funds and failing to report criminal behavior, a legal source said.

Her husband, 75, a former Supreme Court justice, was convicted on April 19 and faces up to 15 years behind bars at his sentencing on June 5.
"They decided to let the trial get over with, to let out what would be aired," said a well-informed source.

At Robin Garson's husband's trial, corrupt lawyer Paul Siminovsky testified that Gerald Garson asked him to solicit campaign contributions and provide free legal help for her 2002 judicial campaign.

In 2004, Robin Garson testified at a grand jury investigation of her husband's cousin, retired Supreme Court Justice Michael Garson, who was suspected of stealing thousands of dollars from his elderly aunt.
She said Michael Garson confessed to improperly taking $100,000 from his aunt Sarah Gershenoff. She also testified that a power of attorney the nephews used to pilfer Gershenoff's nearly $1 million fortune was forged, according to sources.

Robin Garson was Gershenoff's guardian at the time.
Ethical rules require judges to report criminal acts.

The commission is also reviewing a letter sent by the National Organization for Women about Robin Garson's behavior on the day of her husband's conviction.
The letter accused her of "exploiting her official status to obtain special privileges" at the trial, passing notes to defense attorneys and entering the courtroom through special doors reserved for officials.

Garson's lawyer, Richard Godovsky, dismissed the charges in the NOW letter.
"There is nothing against her," he said. "That's going to be clear."
The administrator of the judicial commission, Robert Tembeckjian, declined to comment, but confirmed the panel had received the NOW letter.
"We will deal with it as we deal with all complaints," he said.