JUDICIAL · NY · 1985-1992
Sol Wachtler
Court of Appeals Chief Judge · Republican · New York
NOTABLE
On the record
Resigned Nov 1992 + pleaded guilty to harassing ex-mistress
SEVERITY · FELONY
Background
Sol Wachtler (b. 1930) was NY Court of Appeals Chief Judge 1985-1992. Resigned November 1992 + pleaded guilty to harassing his ex-mistress Joy Silverman (a Republican fundraiser); served 11 months in federal prison. Famously coined the phrase "any prosecutor who wanted to could indict a ham sandwich" while on the bench (1985). Diagnosed bipolar after the harassment plea; has spoken publicly about mental illness in the legal profession since release.
Curated bio from Officium's editorial pass.
Primary sources
Others who held this office in New York
- Judith S. Kaye (1993-2008)
- Lawrence H. Cooke (1979-1984)
- Charles D. Breitel (1974-1978)
- Stanley H. Fuld (1966-1973)
- Charles S. Desmond (1960-1966)
- Albert Conway (1955-1959)
- Edmund H. Lewis (1953-1955)