Discipline might still be available for #TheBeckerBeast, after all

Delaware County residents and followers of my blog read about Judge Carl F. Becker, a judge whose misconduct was a legend in Delaware County, recently abruptly "retired" 2.5 years into his 2nd term that he fought for by tooth and claw and by fraudulent means.  

And, the annual report of New York State Commission for Judicial Conduct indicated that some judges retired during investigation.

It clearly seemed like Becker was one of that number, and "retired" not to be booted.

At this time, Becker violates rules of attorney discipline by not providing on his attorney registration website either his business address, or his home address.

It is apparent that, since the Becker Beast does not want his whereabouts known, even at the expense of violation of attorney disciplinary/registration rules, that also means that the Becker Beast does not practice law - which is a small blessing.

Yet, the retirement was, for sure, meant to escape any and all kinds of discipline for Becker's misdeeds.

As to that, the Becker Beast may be disappointed.

There is no statute of limitations to attorney discipline in New York.  That particular rule was certainly not made with Becker in mind, but it is equally applicable to Becker, too.

It is an increasingly common practice to disbar judges for misconduct in office, after they resign or retire.

See such a practice used recently in:

Ohio;
Florida; 
New Mexico
and even in New York.

A precedent has been recently created in Florida where a judge was forced to resign and was then disbarred for her conduct as an attorney, before she became a judge.

So, the Becker Beast can still be held accountable, at least somewhat, for wrecking thousands of lives through his corrupt and malicious conduct on the bench where the only people he served were himself and his cronies.

Come July, when the new rules of attorney discipline kick in, allowing to appeal dismissal of complaints, we will see if those new rules are applicable to the Beast.