About one-third of judges at Montauk retreat get COVID

Nearly a third of state judges who attended a retreat last week at a Montauk resort caught coronavirus, a spokesman for New York's court system said Thursday.

Out of the more than 70 judges who went to the three-night retreat at Gurney's Star Island Resort & Marina, 20 later tested positive for COVID-19, according to the spokesman, Lucian Chalfen. He said that his understanding was that none of the infected judges was seriously ill.

He said that those who were symptomatic would need to quarantine for five days before returning to the bench and chambers, and must then mask up.

"The annual three night retreat held by the New York City Criminal Court Judges Association unfortunately resulted in a number of Judges testing positive for coronavirus," he said in an email. "Of the seventy plus attendees, none reported more than mild to moderate cold and flu like symptoms. Of the twenty judges that tested positive, the ones that displayed symptoms are recuperating at home and those who are asymptomatic could be back at work. As per our protocols, all are vaccinated."

Attending the retreat, at Gurney's, formerly known as the Montauk Yacht Club, were members of the judges association, as well as those who had been promoted to be acting justices of the state Supreme Court.

The New York Times reported that activities included karaoke, "during which several judges were particularly enthusiastic."

Stacey Spielman, a Gurney’s spokeswoman, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.