Judge Rude-y?

A [Bronx Family Court Judge’s] allegedly sharp tongue may cost her her job. The state Commission on Judicial Conduct is investigating Marian R. Shelton for “rude and abusive behavior towards litigants.” Shelton, 52, allegedly told one lawyer to “shut up,” told another that he had “mental health issues,” and told a legal guardian to “go to therapy.” She also allegedly told a Caribbean man to “take those stupid things out of [his] hair” and mocked one lawyer’s accent. These are just some of the complaints described in the commission’s charges against her.

[Shelton claims] the charges are a smear campaign against her by Dennis Quirk, the head of the state Court Officers Association, which Quirk denies. Shelton, who then-mayor Rudy Giuliani appointed in 1998, has taken a highly unusual step by deciding to go public with the upcoming disciplinary hearings on her conduct and her [“nasty battle”](http://www.judicialreports.com/2007/02/post_26.php) with the court officers’ union; her attorney has been speaking with reporters about both. Shelton also called the Judicial Conduct commission “ethically challenged.” And she may have a point; the ethics commission’s chair is none other than celebrity divorce lawyer [Raoul Felder](http://www.raoulfelder.com/), who received a [no-confidence vote](http://www.scjc.state.ny.us/Press%20Releases/Release20070413.pdf) in April after [Schmucks,](http://www.amazon.com/Schmucks-Favorite-Frauds-Lowlifes-Dangerous/dp/0061126128/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1637095-2154246?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187105251&sr=8-1) a book [he wrote with Jackie Mason](%E2%80%9Cracial,%20ethnic%20and%20religious%20invective.%E2%80%9D) came out. Oddly enough, Felder, who counts 50 Cent’s [baby mama](http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=afc60376-b868-4dbf-8242-03e4fd3d8244) among his recent clients, was appointed by soft-spoken former governor George Pataki. The commission will hear the case before Shelton’s term expires on New Year’s Eve.