Opinion
April 6, 1984
Application to rescind those portions of the order of this court entered January 23, 1984 ( 99 A.D.2d 609) which referred the issues presented in this attorney disciplinary proceeding to Hon. Loren N. Brown, Judge of the Saratoga County Court, for hearing and report, denied.
¶ We do not view our order of reference in this matter as imposing upon the Judge an additional "public office or trust" within the meaning of article VI (§ 20, subd b, par [1]) of the State Constitution (cf. Matter of Richardson, 247 N.Y. 401), nor do we find the reference to be invalid by reason of article VI (§ 20, subd b, par [4]) of the Constitution which states, in part, that a Judge may not "engage in the practice of law, act as an arbitrator, referee or compensated mediator in any action or proceeding or matter" (see Matter of Common Council v Town Bd., 26 A.D.2d 230, affd 19 N.Y.2d 646). Finally, the reference of issues for hearing and report does not offend article VI (§ 26, subd i) of the Constitution which concerns the temporary assignment of Judges or Justices to other courts (see Matter of Morgenthau v Cooke, 56 N.Y.2d 24, 30).
Mahoney, P.J., Kane, Main, Casey and Yesawich, Jr., JJ., concur.