Cynthia Lopez

Cynthia Lopez, a Bronx County Family Court judge appointed by Mayor Eric Adams in January 2024 after roughly three years of interim service, abruptly recused herself from a child custody case in February 2024 after the case's plaintiff, Sidney Southerland, publicly accused her on TikTok of contacting her through the swingers dating app 3Fun. Southerland posted screenshots she said were taken from messages within the app, in which an account under the name "Cyn" — using images that appeared to show the judge in a black negligee and heels — had contacted her.

Lopez announced her recusal during a brief virtual conference with Southerland's attorney. Roughly two weeks after the story became public, Lopez was quietly moved from the court's child protective division to its juvenile delinquency division. The matter was referred to the state Office of Court Administration, which was reported to be reviewing it.