A federal judge has declined to dismiss an indictment against a former Supreme Court justice for allegedly trying to extort $10,000 from a lawyer practicing before him to help pay for the ex-judge’s defense against misconduct charges brought by the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Ruling from the bench at a pretrial hearing last week, Northern District Judge Gary L. Sharpe found the indictment against Thomas J. Spargo was sufficient and set Aug. 24 as the tentative start date for Mr. Spargo’s trial.
Mr. Spargo was indicted last year on attempted extortion and attempted bribery charges for allegedly seeking to have Ulster County attorney Bruce Blatchly contribute to a defense fund as the ex-judge attempted to fend off charges of wrongdoing for previous political activities (NYLJ, Dec. 10). Mr. Spargo, an election law specialist with close ties to the state Republican Party, was removed from the Third Judicial District bench in 2006 for engaging in proscribed political activities upon recommendation by the commission (April 3, 2006). He had previously been a town court justice in Albany County. — Joel Stashenko
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