Sol Wachtler

Sol Wachtler
Born
Solomon Wachtler

(1930-04-29) April 29, 1930 (age 94)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationWashington and Lee University (BA, LLB)
Occupation(s)Attorney, judge
SpouseJoan Wolosoff
ChildrenLauren Wachtler Montclare
Marjorie Wachtler Eagan
Alison Wachtler Braunstein
Philip Wachtler

Solomon "Sol" Wachtler (born April 29, 1930) is an American lawyer and Republican politician.[1] He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1985 to 1992.[2] Wachtler's most famous quote, made shortly after his appointment as Chief Judge, was that district attorneys could get grand juries to "indict a ham sandwich".[3]

He achieved national notoriety when he was charged with, and then convicted of, acts stemming from threats he made against a former lover, Joy Silverman, and her daughter. Upon conviction, Wachtler served thirteen months in prison and a half-way house.[4] After his release, Wachtler became an author and critic, as well as an advocate for the mentally ill.

  1. ^ "Obsession". nypdconfidential.com.
  2. ^ Goldman, John J. (November 11, 1992). "N.Y.'s Chief Judge, Charged With Blackmail, Resigns". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Levin, Josh (November 25, 2014). "The Judge Who Coined "Indict a Ham Sandwich" Was Himself Indicted". Slate. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  4. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (27 August 1994). "Ex-Judge Wachtler to Move From Prison to Halfway House". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2009.