Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Arthur M. Schack
Arthur M. Schack was a justice of the Kings County Supreme Court in the 2nd Judicial District of New York. He was elected to this position in 2004.[1] Schack passed away on May 2, 2016.[2]
Biography
Schack received a B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1966, an M.A. from Indiana University in 1968, and a J.D. from New York Law School in 1980. Schack worked as a high school social studies teacher from 1968 to 1982 and was a chapter chairman and delegate of the United Federation of Teachers from 1973 to 1982.[1]
Schack began his legal career in 1982, working as counsel to the Major League Baseball Players Association. He worked in this capacity through 1998. He was then elected to the New York City Civil Court of Kings County in 1999. He served on this court until 2003. From 1999 to 2002, he was also appointed to serve on the New York City Criminal Court of Kings County. Schack was elected to the supreme court in 2004.[1]
Recusal request
In August 2012, a legal partner for attorney John McDonough filed a request to ask Judge Schack to recuse from a case. The judge was accused of hanging up images of the attorney and drawing a bullseye on McDonough's face. A link to the image can be found in this story: New York Daily News, "Judge targets 'piece of s---' lawyer with bullseye poster during trial," August 18, 2012.
In the request, McDonough's partner said:
| “ | Justice Schack has sufficiently revealed such a level of personal animus towards defendants’ counsel as to make it inappropriate for him to continue as the trial judge.[3][4] | ” |
The legal firm was representing Duane Reade drugstores in an accident claim. The recusal request followed a mistrial declared after the posters appeared in April.[5]
Response
In response to the request for recusal, Schack stepped down from the case. He wrote:
| “ | While this Court knows that it can continue to be fair and impartial in the instant matter, in the exercise of discretion and good conscience and to avoid the appearance of impropriety, this Court recuses itself from this action.[6][4] | ” |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 New York Courts, "Official biography of the Hon. Arthur M. Schack"
- ↑ Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "Beloved Bay Ridge Justice Arthur Schack dies at 71," May 3, 2016
- ↑ New York Daily News, "Judge targets 'piece of s---' lawyer with bullseye poster during trial," August 18, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ ABAJournal, "Cozen Partner Says NY Judge Put 'Wanted' Posters with His Face in Court, Drew Bull's-Eye on Photo," August 23, 2012
- ↑ New York Law Journal, "Judge Says He Is Fair But Accepts Recusal Request by Cozen Firm," September 5, 2012
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of New York, Western District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York
State courts:
New York Court of Appeals • New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division • New York Supreme Court • New York County Courts • New York City Courts • New York Town and Village Courts • New York Family Courts • New York Surrogates' Courts • New York City Civil Court • New York City Criminal Courts • New York Court of Claims • New York Problem Solving Courts
State resources:
Courts in New York • New York judicial elections • Judicial selection in New York
