On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, WGRZ reported that U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny retired after 35 years on the bench. Following his final case, colleagues and fellow judges surprised Skretny with a celebration in his 9th-floor courtroom at the Robert H. Jackson Courthouse in downtown Buffalo.
Skretny, 80, attributed his retirement to a combination of health and timing, stating he did not want to overstay his tenure in a job he loved. Nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, Skretny reflected on his time in federal court as an “amazing venue.”
Throughout his career, Skretny presided over several significant cases. These included the Lackawanna 6 terror cell, federal litigation related to the crash of flight 3407, and the Tonawanda Coke case, one of the first federal criminal prosecutions under the Clean Air Act. His decisions also played a role in the Seneca Nation’s opening of the Buffalo Creek Casino. Skretny also partially struck down New York’s SAFE Act, deeming the initial provision limiting magazine capacity to seven rounds as arbitrary.
Skretny noted the increasing challenges facing the judiciary. He expressed concern that national unrest is testing each branch of government, making it more difficult to uphold the Constitution. He recalled President Bush’s request to exercise judicial independence and avoid political influence in his decision-making.
Skretny acknowledged the perception that court decisions are increasingly driven by politics, a trend he finds troubling. He emphasized the importance of judicial independence for the nation’s success. He also commented on a recent Supreme Court decision limiting federal judges’ power to block presidential initiatives. Despite these challenges, Skretny expressed confidence in the judicial system’s ability to overcome pressure and uphold justice. He maintained that every case is equally important and that the federal judiciary is committed to fair and equal administration of justice for all.
Source: WGRZ
