Robert Restaino
Robert Restaino (born c. 1959) is an American judge on the Niagara Falls City Court of the 8th Judicial District, Niagara County New York . Restaino served as judge for the Niagara Falls City Court in a part time capacity from 1996, before becoming a full time judge in January 2002.
Jailing of entire court
On the morning of 11 March 2005 , while presiding over a domestic violence case, Restaino ordered into custody the entire courtroom audience of 46 people after nobody came forward as the owner of a cellphone which rang during proceedings. 14 of the 46 jailed who could not afford to post the bail set were shackled and transported to the county jail in Lockport, and were not released until later that afternoon when reporters started asking AbOUT the ruling .
On 28 November 2007, New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct ordered Restaino to be removed from office after finding that Restaino had engaged in "an egregious and unprecedented abuse of judicial power". Restaino's lawyer, Terrence Connors has indicated that Restaino would be appealing the commission ruling .