After a five month investigation, the state Attorney General announced Thursday it is filing felony charges against Judge Julie Introcaso of Bedford for allegedly tampering with court paperwork in an attempt to cover-up her failure to properly recuse herself from a child custody case.
In October, the Judicial Conduct Committee announced it was bringing forward a disciplinary matter against Introcaso, 56, for failing to recuse herself, despite a “long-standing close friendship” with one of the lawyers involved in the matter. The attorney general’s office announced at the same time that it was opening a criminal investigation into Introcaso’s alleged use of Wite-Out on court records to conceal her previous conduct.
Prosecutors allege that Introcaso, who has been a judge since 2012, oversaw a child custody case for approximately six months despite having a friendship with a lawyer who was serving as a guardian ad litem in the matter. During that six month window, Introcaso signed off on rulings that related to the guardian ad litem’s fees and his method of payment.
In March 2019, Introcaso recused herself from the matter citing her conflict of interest. After receiving a complaint from one of the parties in the case, the Judicial Conduct Committee then opened an investigation in the matter.
During that investigation, Introcaso is alleged to have taken the file into her private chambers and altered the court orders with Wite-Out.
Introcaso denied the claims when they were brought forward by the Judicial Conduct Committee.
She’s facing two felony counts of falsifying evidence, as well as two counts of tampering with public records.
Introcaso was scheduled to begin a multi-day hearing before the Judicial Conduct Committee next week that could ultimately result in her dismissal from the bench.
