New York City Judge Resigns Amid Threat Allegations

A veteran judge in New York City has faced accusations of threatening staff members over complaints regarding his rude and unprofessional conduct, which has led to serious criminal charges.

The New York State Judiciary Commission has confirmed that former Judge Lewis Knock, who served on the benches of Manhattan and Brooklyn since 2015, was under investigation for what they deemed unacceptable practices. He was earning a salary of $250,000 as a state judge.

According to Robert H. Tenbeckian, the committee chair, the complaints against Judge Knock were quite serious. He noted that claims of retaliation were particularly concerning, and that Knock’s resignation was a fitting resolution to the issues presented.

As part of his resignation, Knock has agreed to not pursue or accept any judicial position in the future, as stated by the committee.

The complaints, which started in 2024, alleged that Knock frequently acted disrespectfully toward court staff. There were claims he threatened to lodge a formal complaint against committee members and even implied criminal action against witnesses unless the allegations were dropped.

Further investigations into Knock’s conduct included allegations he provided legal services from out of state, and that he improperly used a personal email address labeled “justice Lounock” for judicial matters.

He also had a contentious exchange with a fellow civil court judge, criticizing her decision not to order a psychiatric evaluation for a case involving an arrest for stalking and harassment.

Despite denying the allegations, Knock chose to resign rather than engage in prolonged legal battles. In his resignation letter, he expressed that serving as a judge was the greatest honor of his life and mentioned looking forward to spending more time with his family, including his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren.

However, it seems Knock isn’t quite ready to fully embrace retirement just yet.

Recently, the corporate firm Anderson Kill announced that Knock would join them as a shareholder within their Corporate and Commercial Litigation Group.

Knock’s attorney, Malcolm S. Taub, stated that his client served with honor and integrity, arguing that the complaints were without merit. Taub indicated that Knock had already planned to transition into private practice well before these allegations surfaced, emphasizing that the decision to resign was influenced by his professional achievements over the years.