Vito's Surrogate Judge Plan Derailed

Daily News Editorial, May 5, 2007

FRANK, WE HARDLY KNEW YA

There are fresh reports that, as we predicted, these are the last days of the very short judicial career of Brooklyn Surrogate Judge Frank Seddio. He is expected to quit the bench next week. Good riddance.
After we reported that Seddio had funneled campaign funds to buddies as he finagled the coveted judgeship from the Brooklyn Democratic machine, he became the subject of an investigation by the Commission on Judicial Conduct. He told pals he's quitting out of boredom, having taken office only last year. Right.
Bright-side factor: As long as Seddio quits before July, Brooklyn boss Vito Lopez will not be able to hand-pick a replacement. Since this is the same Lopez who placed his own daughter and his girlfriend's brother on the bench last year, better that there will be a completely open primary, with voters choosing the new surrogate.
But even better than that would be for the Legislature, which created Seddio's judgeship as part of a shady deal, to abolish the unneeded post. Seddio's departure removes only part of the stench.