Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Photo: David Handschuh Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Photo: David Handschuh

Even if it turns out that Chief Judge Janet DiFiore isn't resigning because of the judicial ethics probe involving her spat with a longtime union head, the appearance that the two are interconnected is already there, a New York ethics lawyer said Tuesday.

"It could end up marring an otherwise distinguished career," said Ronald Minkoff, chair of the firm Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC's professional responsibility group.