ITHACA, N.Y.— Just weeks after speculation began about City Court Judge Seth Peacock’s candidacy for the 10-year term as Tompkins County Judge, he officially withdrew his bid last weekend.
Peacock announced his decision to withdraw from the race through Linda Hoffman, chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee (TCDC). She shared the news by emailing a brief statement from the committee she signed.
County Judge John Rowley announced his retirement in December after 23 years, creating an open future position on the county bench. His letter of resignation is effective March 1.
The Ithaca Voice could not verify whether or not Peacock publicly announced his candidacy for county judge before Hoffman released notice of his withdrawal. But according to a source present at the closed meetings, Peacock met with TCDC and local Working Families Party representatives to discuss potential endorsements in the weeks prior to dropping out of the race.
Hoffman wrote in the announcement that she received an email from Peacock the evening before she shared the news. She “spoke with him briefly,” at which time he asked Hoffman to disseminate the information for him.
“Seth looks forward to serving as city judge going forward,” Hoffman wrote in the email.
Peacock said he “had no comments” when contacted for this article.
Former Mayor Svante Myrick appointed him to serve as city judge back in 2019 as well as in 2014, on an interim basis.
Before practicing in Ithaca he worked as a criminal defense attorney after graduating from Cornell Law School. Peacock has been a member of the New York Bar Association since 2005.
In 2011 when Peacock worked in the assigned counsel program, at least two county judges banned him from entering courtrooms they presided over: Judge David Banfield at the Town of Ulysses and former Judge M. John Sherman.
Peacock was repeatedly arriving to court late or unprepared, according to documents obtained by The Ithaca Voice in 2014.
One attorney has announced their candidacy for the seat: Lansing Town Judge and Democrat Maura Kennedy-Smith did so Jan. 5 in a written statement.
The primary election is June 25, 2024.