Paul G. Buchanan (New York)
Paul Buchanan was a judge for the Erie County Family Court in New York. He served from 2004 to 2013.[1]
Education
Buchanan received his B.A., MBA and J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1974, 1981 and 1989, respectively.[1]
Career
Buchanan began his career in 1979 as a deputy comptroller for the City of Buffalo. He then became a confidential attorney to a state supreme court justice from 1990 through 2003. He also served on the Buffalo Board of Education as a president and member at large from 1999 to 2003. He joined the family court bench in 2004.[1]
Censure
In late December 2012, Buchanan was censured by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which cited several examples of what it considered to be improper behavior by the judge. In one instance, he visited a suicidal 14-year-old girl in the hospital, giving her a book and some cookies and telling her she had a lot to live for. The problem arose because, at the time, he was also presiding over the girl's juvenile delinquency case; the commission was concerned that the judge's actions created an appearance of impropriety and compromised his impartiality. The commission also referenced "three other unrelated incidents in which he unnecessarily berated and rudely treated lawyers and a probation supervisor." In his nine years on the bench, Judge Buchanan had never before been disciplined by the commission, and he "received professional counseling to assist him with the emotional demands of being a Family Court judge." According to the commission, the judge "has acknowledged that his actions were inconsistent with the ethical standards and the procedures required by law, and has pledged to conduct himself in accordance with the rules in the future."[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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
