Joel Stashenko

March 24, 2016 | New York Law Journal

Michael Violante has abruptly resigned after eight years as district attorney in Niagara County. The Republican had been under scrutiny for more than a year beginning with the Jan. 12, 2015, filing of a federal sexual harassment suit against Niagara County.

By Joel Stashenko

3 minute read

March 24, 2016 | New York Law Journal

The state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics has named Seth Agata, former acting counsel to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as its new executive director.

By Joel Stashenko

3 minute read

March 23, 2016 | New York Law Journal

The Fourth Department said the details of the agonies suffered by Robert DiGuilio in the weeks between when he was shot and when he died from bronchial pneumonia, as related by the victim's relatives, were not known to the parole board when it initially set a release date for an elderly organized crime figure serving 25 years to life for the 1985 murder-for-hire.

By Joel Stashenko

10 minute read

March 22, 2016 | New York Law Journal

A disbarred attorney should not be denied reinstatement based on a conviction that was set aside after he had served two years in prison, his lawyer argued Monday before the Third Department.

By Joel Stashenko

11 minute read

March 22, 2016 | New York Law Journal

The Fourth Department ruled unanimously that the trial court judge erred when he refused a defense request to charge the jury at Nancy James' 2012 trial on the justification defense of the use of deadly physical force.

By Joel Stashenko

4 minute read

March 22, 2016 | New York Law Journal

New state Court of Appeals Judge Michael Garcia will make his home chambers at Fordham University School of Law, at least through the 2016-17 academic year. Though he will not have any official duties at the college, Fordham officials said the school will benefit from his presence and that of his staff.

By Joel Stashenko

6 minute read

March 18, 2016 | New York Law Journal

A judge has refused to impose stricter restrictions on political contributions by limited liability companies in New York, ruling that it is up to the Legislature to close what government reformers call the "LLC loophole" after the state Board of Elections deadlocked on doing so last year.

By Joel Stashenko

11 minute read

March 18, 2016 | New York Law Journal

Former chief judge Jonathan Lippman announced Thursday the members of a commission he is chairing to study the Rikers Island jail complex and whether alternative facilities are practical.

By Joel Stashenko

4 minute read

March 18, 2016 | New York Law Journal

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said his administration is cooperating with an investigation into environmental safety in some housing projects due to lead paint levels. Federal prosecutors are also seeking information about potential false claims from the city for payments from the federal government.

By Joel Stashenko

2 minute read

March 17, 2016 | New York Law Journal

President Barack Obama has nominated Kathleen Marie Sweet, a medical malpractice specialist at a Buffalo law firm, for a judgeship in the Western District of New York.

By Joel Stashenko

3 minute read