The Public’s Managing Editor Geoff Kelly is reporting that New York State Supreme Court Justice John Michalek as the target of a state investigation. Kelly writes:
MICHALEK GOSSIP: Those downtown lawyers are always talking. The latest we’ve heard is that state federal investigators recently descended on the county courthouse as part of an inquiry into New York State Supreme Court Justice John Michalek. After that, the stuff freighted onto the rumors—other judges, bribes, imminent arrests or resignations, cases involving infamous local political figures—is unconfirmed. More soon.
Michalek is a graduate of Canisius Collage and the University of Albany Law School. He was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 1994 and re-elected in 2009.
Michalek was an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County (1977-1985); Chief of the Justice Court Bureau (1982-1985); Municipal Counsel Township of Hamburg (1988-1993)’ Interim Supervisor Township of Hamburg (1993); Town Attorney Township of Hamburg (1994).
Michalek is no stranger to Commercial Law. Even after the formation of the Commercial Division, Michalek has volunteered to receive commercial cases resulting from conflicts with the presiding Justice. He formerly served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Erie Community College.
The Buffalo News’ political reporter Bob McCarthy is linking Michalek to the apparently ongoing probe of former Democratic Party Chairman G. Steven Pigeon. That investigation centers on campaign finance technicalities relating to the WNY Progressive Caucus, a now defunct fundraising vehicle that was backing a slate of candidates for county legislature.
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