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Syracuse City Court Judge Felicia Pitts-Davis received public reprimand from the New York State Judicial Conduct Commission earlier this month for refusing to officiate a same-sex marriage ceremony, it announced in a Monday press release.

In its final decision, the commission found the judge’s refusal to perform a scheduled courthouse same-sex marriage in November 2024 constituted “serious misconduct” that “severely undermined public confidence in her impartiality,” according to the release.

The commission deemed that censure, rather than her immediate removal from office, was warranted — meaning, despite being disciplined, she will remain a city court judge.

The determination, filed March 16, featured support from 10 concurring commission members. One member did not participate. Pitts-Davis agreed to the censure, according to the release.

To avoid the appearance of bias in the future, she will not perform any marriage ceremonies, “regardless of the status of the couple,” and will ask court staff not to schedule marriages on her individual calendar, per the decision.

In the decision, Pitts-Davis asserts she would “prioritize her judicial obligations over her personal beliefs” and solemnize a future same-sex marriage if she were on duty and no other judges were available.

“Regardless of a judge’s personal views, those who choose to be married at the courthouse deserve the unbiased services of the public servants on duty,” Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian wrote in the release.

The Syracuse City Court routinely assigns court judges on a rotating basis to preside over proceedings, including courtroom marriages.

On Nov. 16, 2024, Pitts-Davis learned she was the assigned judge for arraignments the following day, including two weddings. She asked a court clerk whether either wedding involved a same-sex couple, according to the decision.

After the clerk said that one marriage might involve a same-sex couple, the judge replied, “Based upon my religious beliefs, I would be prohibited from doing same-sex marriages,” according to the decision.

She added that she did not want any same-sex marriages scheduled until she could “get an opinion from the ethics committee.” Within minutes of the exchange, Pitts-Davis emailed a request for an opinion to the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics.

It was not possible for Pitts-Davis to get a response in time for the next date’s scheduled marriages, according to the decision. She then requested that the marriage be rescheduled to a later date.

The marriage was not rescheduled after the couple became upset over a late postponement notice. Pitts-Davis married a heterosexual couple before leaving the courtroom when two women were to be married next. Supervising City Court Judge Mary Anne Doherty came into the court to perform the ceremony as scheduled.

Pitts-Davis was served with a formal official complaint on July 17, 2025, containing one charge.

In the decision, Pitts-Davis accepts that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples under the United States Constitution, but also believes that, consistent with her religious beliefs, she should not be compelled to officiate over a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Prior to November 2024, Pitts-Davis officiated multiple marriages involving same-sex couples, according to the decision.

A Syracuse City Court judge since 2021, Pitts-Davis’ current term expires on Dec. 31, 2030.

Published on March 30, 2026 at 9:29 pm