Judge Joseph Sakowski of Elma, NY; ethical leprechaun

The state of New York presented Joseph A. Sakowski with a law license in 1976 after he graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo Law School.

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct found Joey guilty of the following misconduct.

Under New York rules, judges are prohibited from making contributions and/or donations to policial organizations and/or political campaigns. Eric has been the Elma Town Court justice for the past thirty-five (35) years.

As is the case with many Judicial Misfits, Eric concluded that he wasn’t obligated to follow the rules. At the time of his misconduct, Eric was a sitting Elma Town Court Justice. He also worked as an attorney at Sakowski & Markello LLP.

Over the course of several years, Eric made at least seventy-eight (78) prohibited contributions to political organizations or candidates for elective office. Eric also made approximately twenty-seven (27) prohibited ticket purchases to politically sponsored dinners or other functions.

In total, Eric knowingly violated the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct over 100 times. It goes without saying that Eric gave the Judicial Council the middle finger each and every time he violated the rules.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Judicial Commission punished Eric by gifting him with a complimentary admonishment.

As we speak (ca. September 2015), Eric continues to sit as a Justice on the Elma Town Court. He also continues to practice his brand of law with Sakowski & Markello LLP at 6851 Seneca Street in Elma, New York, which is about 20 miles southeast of Buffalo.