Pictured is the Stockton Town Hall, where the court is located.

STOCKTON — A justice who served the town for a little more than eight years has resigned his post due to conduct that was “inappropriate and inconsistent with his ethical obligations.”

Mark A. Cunningham submitted his resignation on Jan. 18. In the letter to town Supervisor David Wilson, Cunningham was critical of recent changes in state law.

“When I first ran for election, I promised the residents of Stockton that I would keep residents safe,” he wrote. “Based upon the changes in the bail reform law, I don’t believe I can keep that promise anymore.”

On Jan. 28, the State of New York Commission on Judicial Conduct accepted the resignation, noting Cunnigham cannot seek or accept judicial office at any time.

State documents noted the complaint was made against Cunnigham between December 2019 and March 2020. In November, the former justice was notified by the state it was investigating his “failure to cooperate with the investigation.”

Cunningham has an extensive background in the criminal justice field. When seeking the town justice post in 2013, Cunningham noted in an article in the OBSERVER that he was employed by the Cattaraugus County Office of the Public Defender. He also touted his expertise as a witness in both state and family courts; a private investigator and investigative consultant; had been a veteran of dozens of felony trials, including multiple homicide cases through jury verdict decision where he has personally sat alongside counsel to provide assistance; and a veteran of over two dozen misdemeanor trials, in which he also has personally assisted counsel at the table.

The Westfield native also described being an author and publisher of several articles relating to fraud investigation both locally and nationally.

Eric Tichy contributed to this report.