Earlier this month, after a series of news stories revealed that Bronx State Senator Luis Sepúlveda was a repeated no-show in housing court for the tenants he was representing, he defended his record as an attorney.
"I always aspire to have the highest level of competency in everything I do for my clients," Sepúlveda told New York Focus in a story that quoted several legal experts who said they believed that Sepúlveda's conduct violated professional standards.
When NY Focus later asked State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins whether, given Sepúlveda's spotty legal track record, it was still appropriate for him to chair the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, she replied that she saw "no reason to remove him" from his post.
"From what I know, there's been no formal charges against Senator Sepúlveda, and he is doing his job as chair of the judiciary," Stewart-Cousins said.
But Sepúlveda's legal missteps seemingly go beyond not showing up in court for his clients.
During a March 27 housing court appearance, Sepúlveda was evasive and argumentative with a judge about why he missed a court date, according to audio of the hearing obtained by Hell Gate, alternately claiming that the state legislature was in session when it wasn't, and blaming opposing counsel for not sending him a reminder. Eventually, the lawmaker interrupted and talked over the judge, Jason Vendzules, who then abruptly brought the hearing to a close.