If the mark of being a good judge is weighted highly in favor of ethical behavior, than Rachel ‘Ruchie’ Freier appears to have the edge over her two opponents, Jill Epstein and Morton “Mordy” Avigdor, in Tuesday’s Primary election for judge of the Fifth Municipal Civil Court.
That after the State Board Of Election filings show an outstanding $250,000 loan to Epstein’s campaign – which according to election law must be paid back by primary day or it is considered an illegal over-the-limit contribution. Not paying the loan back also makes Epstein liable for a possible misdemeanor criminal arrest for willfully flouting campaign finance laws (Section 14-114 subdivison 9 & 10; Section 14-126 subdivision 4).
According to Epstein’s filings she received the loan in three payments dated July 14 from the Florida-based firm Sales and Marketing Innovation LLC, as well as a $50,000 loan to herself. However, in Epstein’s 11 Day Pre-Primary filings, which she turned in this week – about a month late of the filing deadline – she reported paying herself back the $50,000, but failed to report the $250,000 as an outstanding liability/loan.
“The law was specifically written to prevent people from giving excess campaign contributions, which in the case of someone running for judge is about a $6,500 limit, and then calling it a loan and not a contribution,” said a knowledgable New York State Board of Elections expert. “While the law recognizes sometimes you need a floater loan to raise money, it must be paid back by election day or it becomes a contribution.”
Upon being questioned on the loan and her filings, Epstein’s only response was, “It (the loan) is still reflected as outstanding.”
Epstein’s questionable campaign finances comes a little more than a week after KCP reported that Avigdor was removed as a court-appointed trustee of an estate after he invested some of the estate money and paid back just a fraction of what he took.
This leaves Freier, a Chasidic attorney from Borough Park, who although very religious, has gained both respect and criticism from the patriarchal orthodox Jewish community for her role in creating the all-women’s volunteer Ezras Nashim ambulance company. Additionally, her B’Derech initiative, is credited for giving mainly at-risk Orthodox Jewish boys second and third chances through GED classes and vocational programs.
“I have always dedicated myself to standing up for what’s right and fair on a pro bono basis outside my transactional law practice,” said Freier. “I think it’s important to be fair and ethical, especially in the civil court where many people can’t afford a lawyer and they need someone on the bench with a strong sense of what’s fair and who understands people.”
The Fifth Municipal Civil Court district includes cases emanating out of Boro Park, Sunset Park, South Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Green-Wood and several neighborhoods to the south.
