A former New York City judge has been accused of intimidating staff who raised concerns about his “rude” and “unprofessional” conduct, yet he has managed to resign quietly and has secured a lucrative position at a prestigious corporate law firm, according to The Post’s findings.
Louis Nock, who has been a justice on the benches of Manhattan and Brooklyn since 2015, was under investigation for “impermissibly” engaging in legal practice while earning a $250,000 annual salary as a state supreme court judge, as indicated by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Robert H. Tembeckjian, the commission’s head, commented, “The allegations against Judge Nock were serious, and the claims of retaliation were particularly concerning. His permanent exit from the judiciary is a fitting resolution to these issues.”
As part of his resignation agreement, Nock has committed to “neither seek nor accept judicial office in the future,” according to the commission’s statements.
A series of complaints initiated in 2024 highlighted that Nock “frequently behaved in a rude, demeaning, and unprofessional manner towards court personnel,” the commission determined.
He subsequently threatened to file formal grievance complaints against commission staff unless the allegations were withdrawn and even warned a witness with potential criminal charges.
Further investigations were underway concerning complaints that Nock was unlawfully providing legal services outside of New York and that he leveraged his judicial status to pursue personal interests, notably by using a personal email under the moniker “justicelounock.”
Moreover, he attracted criticism from another civil court judge who remarked that Nock “inexplicably failed” to mandate a psychiatric evaluation for a controversial individual after she was charged with stalking and harassment for threats made against a dog belonging to a bartender from whom she was banned.
While Nock refuted the allegations, he chose to resign rather than endure protracted proceedings post-Labor Day.
In his resignation letter, he expressed, “Serving has been the greatest honor of my life. I look forward to spending more quality time with my wife, three children, and eight grandchildren.”
However, Nock is not ready to fully embrace retirement just yet.
Recently, corporate firm Anderson Kill announced that the former judge has joined their ranks as a shareholder and a member of the corporate and commercial litigation team.
Nock’s attorney, Malcolm S. Taub, stated that the former judge conducted himself “with honor and integrity” and maintained that he saw “no merit” to the grievances against him.
“Judge Nock was planning to transition into private practice well before any issues arose,” Taub remarked to The Post.
“There was little point in continuing with the commission process, given that his longstanding efforts led to an opportunity at a reputable law firm. He is now embarking on a new chapter in what has been a significant and unblemished legal career.”
