On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the ABA Journal reported that former New York Judge Louis L. Nock recently joined the law firm Anderson Kill, a move he attributed to family considerations and an approaching mandatory retirement at the age of 70. However, Nock’s announcement omitted a crucial detail: he joined the firm on the very same day that New York ethics regulators agreed to drop ethics charges against him.

This agreement, as reported by Law360, involved Nock resigning from the bench and committing to never seek judicial office again in exchange for the dismissal of the charges. The stipulation was accepted on September 18 by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct and made public on September 25. Nock’s resignation was effective September 2.

The ethics complaints against Nock, detailed in a September 25 press release, alleged a pattern of misconduct. He was accused of consistently behaving in a rude, demeaning, and unprofessional manner toward court staff. Additionally, he allegedly threatened to file attorney grievance complaints against commission staff and witnesses, and even a criminal complaint against another witness, in an attempt to force the dismissal of the charges against him.

While Nock denied all allegations of misconduct, he ultimately agreed to resign after the commission denied two motions to dismiss the charges. He had served as a civil court judge in New York City since 2015 and was appointed as an acting supreme court justice, a trial-level state court judge, in 2018.

Anderson Kill acknowledged that Nock disclosed the ethics allegations prior to his hiring and provided explanations regarding the issues. The firm emphasized that the ethics case concluded without any finding of wrongdoing.

In a statement provided to Law.com, Anderson Kill stated they were satisfied that the allegations did not call into question Nock’s conduct as a judge or his character. The firm highlighted his 11-year career on the New York bench and his prior private practice, noting that he was highly respected within the New York legal community.

Nock’s lawyer, Malcolm S. Taub, also affirmed that the commission made no findings of wrongdoing in the ethics case. He stated that an agreement was reached to ensure no finding would be made and no further charges would be pursued.

Taub said Nock vehemently denied the demeanor allegation, asserting that Nock has “100%” respect for the commission staff. He added that his dealings with the commission were professional and aimed at reaching a positive resolution.

Taub explained that Nock’s decision to resolve the ethics case stemmed from his existing plans to leave the bench. He had been exploring new job opportunities for several years and had multiple offers at the time of his resignation.

Taub emphasized that Nock considered it his “greatest honor” to have served as a judge and expressed his delight in returning to private practice with Anderson Kill. He told Law.com that Nock “served in his judicial post with honor and integrity” and was respected by lawyers and litigants.

 

 

Source: ABA Journal