ROCHESTER, N.Y. — State Supreme Court Judge Craig Doran announced he is stepping down as administrative judge for New York's Seventh Judicial District after a more than 30-year-old photo of him dressed as a person of color at a Halloween party began circulating. 

In a news release, Judge Doran says the photo comes from a party that happened in 1988. Doran says he is stepping down in accordance with the chief judge's zero-tolerance policy on matters of racial bias and insensitivity. While he is stepping down as administrative judge, Doran says he will continue to serve as an elected supreme court justice.

Doran issued an apology in a statement on Friday:

"I am deeply sorry for my decision to appear in this manner. I did not comprehend at the time the hurtful nature of my actions. 

"I know now that an act of this nature is considered to be racist. I can assure you that this event in 1988 in no way reflects my beliefs and principles."

A spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration says court officials learned of the photo this week, and his superiors told the judge he needed to step down from the administrative post.

“That kind of activity has no place in society,” reacted Rep. Joe Morelle, a Democrat representing New York’s 25th Congressional District. “I'm terribly disappointed and I think he made the right decision by stepping down."

“Dressing up like that was in particular offensive and racist,” said Rev. Lewis Stewart, of United Church Leadership Ministry of Rochester. “But then I juxtapose that with all the good work that he has done."

Stewart says he had a phone conversation with Doran this week. Supporters say Doran has done a lot to improve hiring of people of color, diversifying the jury pool and supporting programs that help the underserved.

“It never occurred to us that anything like this would happen with Judge Doran,” said Tina Monshipour Foster, a human rights attorney who is executive director of the nonprofit JustCause. “Because he's been a champion of the rights of the underserved."

“He stepped up as a man and he did what was rightfully needed to be done based on a poor choice he made,” said Willie Lightfoot, Democrat and Rochester City Council vice president. “I have to respect him for taking ownership and wanting to turn this into something positive."

Morelle questioned the Republican Doran’s decision to stay on as a Supreme Court judge.  

“I think it's an open question,” he said. “I don’t know that he can say he can't serve in an administrative capacity, but continue to dispense justice in a Supreme Court capacity. So I think it's a question we have to consider and he has to consider."

State Supreme Court Justice William Taylor will serve as acting administrative judge, until a permanent replacement is found.