New York City
Judge blocks Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s BK Dems rules overhaul
Judge Jill R. Epstein called the recent vote to change party rules – part of the Brooklyn chair’s scheme to maintain control – “improper.”
The ruling could clear the way for Democratic District Leader Julio Peña III to take over control of the Brooklyn Dems. Emily Assiran
Brooklyn Democratic boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s attempt to maintain control of the county Democratic club was blocked in court on Monday. The ruling in Brooklyn Supreme Court found an overhaul of party bylaws passed last month that favored Bichotte Hermelyn’s chances of staying in power was “improper” and said the results of that vote “must be declared a nullity.”
A group of reformers in the embattled county Democratic club sued to block the Bichotte Hermelyn-orchestrated vote last month, arguing that outgoing members of the party’s executive committee who voted on the rules change shouldn’t have been allowed to do so. State Supreme Court Judge Jill R. Epstein agreed, granting the reformers a permanent injunction that restrains outgoing members of the executive committee from “exercising functions on substantial matters” as a part of the committee.
“It looks like the judge has a painstaking, point-by-point consideration of arguments offered by both sides and has determined that we are correct as to the voting authority of the members of the state committee,” said Howard Graubard, a lawyer for the reformers, and a longtime Brooklyn politics insider.
Bichotte Hermelyn did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It wasn’t immediately clear whether attorneys for the Brooklyn Democratic Party would appeal.
Tony Melone, president of the New Kings Democrats, said he hopes the party will let the judge’s ruling stand. The progressive group organized the coalition of reformist district leaders that informally decided in July that they’d elect Julio Peña III as the party’s next chair, after winning a majority of state committee seats in the June election. A vote for leader is expected before Oct. 6.
“Nobody wants our Democratic party to be leaderless as we get closer to the November election. We all want this to be resolved and the court has made a very clear ruling,” Melone said. “It’s just time for the party chair to take a step back and then we can work together.”
This is a developing story that will be updated.