Ex-N.Y. Chief Judge Pleads Insanity in Extortion Scheme
The former chief judge of New York state’s highest court pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday to federal charges that he tried to extort money from his former lover.
Sol Wachtler, 62, who resigned as chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals after his Nov. 7 arrest by FBI agents, appeared before U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson, who set a June 1 trial date.
Wachtler’s lawyer, Charles Stillman, has said that his client suffered from a “major psychiatric illness.” Stillman said earlier this month that several psychiatrists had evaluated Wachtler and his conduct, concluding that he was not responsible for his actions.
In a five-count federal indictment handed up Feb. 1, Wachtler was charged with interstate travel and the use of telephones and mail to promote an extortion scheme involving Republican fund-raiser and socialite Joy Silverman. The two had broken off a relationship in early 1992.
He also faces three counts of mailing threatening communications to Silverman and her teen-age daughter and one count of making false statements to a federal agency.
If convicted, Wachtler faces up to 16 years in federal prison and $1.25 million in fines.
Wachtler has been under house arrest at his home in Manhasset, N.Y., and must wear an electronic monitoring device to verify his whereabouts.
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