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Click here to submit it for this profile! * * * Monroe County Family Court Tenure Present officeholder Report an officeholder change Education Bachelor's Grove City College, 1983 Law Washington & Lee University School of Law, 1987 ## Contents * 1 Elections * 1.1 2013 * 2 Noteworthy events * 2.1 Ruhlmann publicly censured for having secretary babysit at work (2009) * 3 Education * 4 Career * 5 Awards and associations * 6 See also * 7 External links * 8 Footnotes Dandrea Lynn Ruhlmann is a judge for the Monroe County Family Court in New York. She was elected to this position in 2004 and was re-elected to the court on November 5, 2013 for another 10-year term, expiring in 2023.[1][2][3] ## Elections[edit] ### 2013[edit] Ruhlmann ran for re-election to the Monroe County Family Court. General: She defeated Juan A. Nevarez and Nathan A. Van Loon, and was elected alongside Jim Walsh in the general election on November 5, 2013, receiving 27.4 percent of the vote. See also: New York judicial elections, 2013 [2][3] ## Noteworthy events[edit] ### Ruhlmann publicly censured for having secretary babysit at work (2009)[edit] The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a determination on February 9, 2009. It found that Ruhlmann should be publicly censured for judicial misconduct. A formal complaint was filed on June 24, 2008. The complaint alleged that during an eight-month period, Ruhlmann directed her secretary to babysit her children and type personal documents for Ruhlmann's husband during work hours. She also requested that her secretary search for information in a confidential court database which Ruhlmann intended to give to her husband, Raymond Ruhlmann III, an assistant district attorney in Monroe County.[4] Ruhlmann hired Kimberly Keskin to serve as her executive secretary at the Monroe County Family Court. Ruhlmann and Keskin had been close personal friends since childhood. The Ruhlmann children called Keskin 'Aunt Kimmy' and Keskin often took care of the children without being paid. She also typed things for Ruhlmann's husband from time to time, also without being paid. When Ruhlmann became a judge, she chose Keskin to serve as her confidential secretary at the court.[5] The commission found that on numerous occasions in 2004, Ruhlmann and her husband requested that Keskin care for their children. In some instances, Keskin left work at the court to take one of the children to the doctor or hospital. The Ruhlmann's never paid Keskin for providing these services. When Keskin was gone from work, or did not perform her job duties because she was caring for the children, she did not mark any time off on the timesheets that she submitted to the court. Ruhlmann signed off on the timesheets submitted by Keskin. Between February 2004 and May 2004, Keskin also prepared typed documents for Ruhlmann's husband. While doing these tasks, Keskin often complained the work was interfering with her work for the court. However, Ruhlmann indicated Keskin should complete the work for her husband before she attended to any work for the court.[4] Keskin was often forced to work longer hours and miss lunch breaks because she was working on personal tasks for Ruhlmann and her husband. In the summer of 2004, Keskin made a request to take Fridays off. However, Ruhlmann denied Keskin's request.[5] On September 13, 2004, Keskin secretly recorded a conversation she had with Ruhlmann. During the conversation, Keskin complained about having to do work for Ruhlmann's husband and care for their children during the work day. Ruhlmann indicated Keskin's job required her to complete any tasks or do any work she was assigned.[4] Keskin complained to Supreme Court Justice Thomas M. VanStrydonck, who was the administrative judge for the 7th Judicial District at the time. She informed him she was being required to babysit Ruhlmann's children and prepare typed documents for her husband during work hours. She also told him she recorded her conversation with Ruhlmann.[4] VanStrydonck met with Ruhlmann and Keskin on September 20, 2004. He told Ruhlmann it was inappropriate for her to have her executive secretary doing personal work for her. He told Keskin she was wrong to secretly tape her conversation with Ruhlmann. Keskin was fired later that day.[4] Keskin filed an action against the court and Ruhlmann in November 2004. A settlement was reached in March 2007 between Keskin and the parties. Ruhlmann was not found liable.[4] Ruhlmann admits she ". . .grossly misunderstood the role of a judge's personally appointed confidential secretary. . . (and) realizes that she created at least the appearance of using public resources for her personal benefit. (She) apologize(d) to the Commission and to Ms. Keskin for her conduct." Since Ruhlmann realized her actions were wrong, and she has promised not have her court staff do personal work for her in the future, the commission decided public censure was the proper sanction. However, the Determination notes Ruhlmann could be removed from the bench if she engages in further misconduct.[4] ## Education[edit] Ruhlmann received her B.A. degree from Grove City College in 1983 and her J.D. degree from the Washington & Lee University, School of Law in 1987.[1] ## Career[edit] * 2005, 2007-Present: Judge, Juvenile Delinquency Court, Monroe County Family Court (appointed) * 2004-2023: Judge, Monroe County Family Court (elected) * 1999-2003: Special matrimonial referee and confidential law clerk, Justice David D. Egan, New York State Unified Court System * 1995-1999: Of counsel, Law Office of Daniel Lincoln Miller * 1992-1995: Attorney, Hallenbeck, Lascell & Pineo * 1989-1991: Attorney, Donelan, Cleary, Wood & Maser * 1987-1988: Judicial law clerk, Justice Henry H. Witing, Supreme Court of Virginia[1] ## Awards and associations[edit] * 2003: Volunteer, American Cancer Society * 2001: Member, Advisory Council, OASIS (Older Adult Services) * 2001: Member, Advisory Council, Genesee Community Charter School, Rochester Museum and Science Center * 1998-1999: Member, Monroe County Council for Elders * 1996-1999: Advisory Council Member, Office of the Aging[1] ## See also[edit] * Monroe County, New York * Courts in New York * Judicial selection in New York ## External links[edit] * 7th Judicial District: Monroe County Family Court ## Footnotes[edit] 1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Dandrea Lynn Ruhlmann biography from the NY State Unified Court System Cite error: Invalid `` tag; name "bio" defined multiple times with different content 2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Monroe County Board of Elections: Listing of Candidates for Public Office, November 5, 2013 General Election 3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Monroe County Board of Elections: Official General Election Results, November 5, 2013 4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 State of New York Commission on Judicial Conduct, "In the Matter re Dandrea Lynn Ruhlmann, Determination," February 9, 2009, accessed October 21, 2013 5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 New York Law Journal, "Judge Faulted for Assigning Secretary to Do Personal Tasks," February 26, 2009 New York courts * * * Federal courts: Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York State courts: New York Court of Appeals • New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division • New York Supreme Court • New York County Courts • New York City Courts • New York Town and Village Courts • New York Family Courts • New York Surrogates' Courts • New York City Civil Court • New York City Criminal Courts • New York Court of Claims • New York Problem Solving Courts State resources: Courts in New York • New York judicial elections • Judicial selection in New York