William M. Skretny Explained

William Marion Skretny
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Term Start:March 8, 2015
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Term Start1:2010
Term End1:2015
Predecessor1:Richard Arcara
Successor1:Frank P. Geraci Jr.
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Term Start2:August 7, 1990
Term End2:March 8, 2015
Appointer2:George H. W. Bush
Predecessor2:John Thomas Curtin
Successor2:John Sinatra
Birth Name:William Marion Skretny
Birth Date:8 March 1945[1]
Birth Place:Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Spouse:Carol A. Mergenhagen
Education:Canisius College (AB)
Howard University (JD)
Northwestern University (LLM)

William Marion Skretny (born March 8, 1945) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

Education and career

Skretny was born in Buffalo, New York. He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Canisius College in 1966, a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 1969, and a Master of Laws from Northwestern University School of Law in 1972. He was a Fellow at the Ford Foundation. He was an assistant United States attorney of the Northern District of Illinois from 1971 to 1973. He was an assistant United States attorney of the Western District of New York from 1973 to 1975. He was a first assistant United States attorney of Western District of New York from 1975 to 1981. He was a special counsel for the Attorney General's Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. in 1979. He was a staff attorney of Office of Special Prosecutor of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in 1980. He was in private practice in Buffalo from 1981 to 1983. He was a first deputy district attorney of Erie County, New York from 1983 to 1988. He was in private practice in Buffalo from 1988 to 1990.

Federal judicial service

Skretny was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on June 12, 1990, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York vacated by Judge John Thomas Curtin. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 3, 1990, and received his commission on August 7, 1990. He served as Chief Judge from 2010 to 2015. He assumed senior status on March 8, 2015.

Personal

He is of Polish descent, and he and both his parents were active members of the Pulaski Association.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951p00535356y;view=2up;seq=720;skin=mobile Confirmation hearings on federal appointments : hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress ... on confirmation hearings on appointments to the federal judiciary .... pt.7-8 (1991)
  2. Web site: The Am-Pol Eagle. ampoleagle.com.