Singled out in a scathing report by city investigators that found he violated ethics rules by doling out campaign, legal and judicial advice to then-Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes, defiant state Supreme Court Justice Barry Kamins vowed through his lawyer Tuesday to fight the charges that could ultimately cost him his job.
“No, no, no, no, that is wrong,” Kamins’ lawyer, Paul Shectman, told The Post when asked about courthouse rumblings that Kamins would call it quits rather than face possible sanctions by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct.
A city Department of Investigation report released Monday accused Hynes of using $1.1 million seized from drug dealers and other crooks to pay political consultant Mortimer Matz (inset). Hynes also used top staffers and his official e-mail for political purposes, violating the city Charter, the report found.
The 27-page report alleged that Kamins — administrative judge for the city’s criminal courts — had “engaged in political activity by a sitting judge” when he exchanged e-mails with the former DA leading up to the 24-year incumbent’s primary and general election losses to current Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson last year.
In one message, Hynes asked Kamins, “Can you think of issues that Thompson has to address about his qualifications?”
Kamins replied, “1. lack of experience supervising a large number of attorneys . . . Unless, or until he puts forth a plan or a set of goals, one must assume he is not qualified to run the office.”
In another message, the judge wrote, “I charge very little to be a consultant. My only request: standing next to you and [Hynes’ wife] Pat at the victory speech.”
The report said Hynes received about 300 e-mails from Kamins and that the former DA either mentioned Kamins or messaged him directly in roughly 800 e-mails.
Kamins was relieved of all his judicial responsibilities on Monday.
Hynes could face felony larceny charges for diverting some of the seized assets — which by law are only to be used for law-enforcement purposes — to Matz.
The matter has been referred to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office, which declined comment Tuesday.
Hynes did not return calls for comment. Matz declined to comment.
Mayor de Blasio called the charges “troubling.”
“We shouldn’t pre-judge,” the mayor said, but then added, “Certainly, what has been reported is very troubling.”