Hon. Richard C. Wesley

Judge Wesley was born in 1949. He was raised in Livonia, N.Y., with a brother. His father was a truck driver and his mother worked in a butcher shop. He attended the local high school. He received his BA in 1971 from the State University of New York at Albany, followed by a JD from Cornell Law School in 1974. He originally wanted to be a history teacher but was guided by his adviser to become a lawyer. His family was supportive and proud.

He worked as a private practitioner in Pittsford and Geneseo, N.Y., between 1975 and 1986. For three years during that time, from 1979 to 1982, he also served as assistant counsel to the minority (Republican) party in the New York State Assembly. In 1982, he won a seat in the Assembly, and he was re-elected in 1984, representing Livingston, Allegany and Ontario counties. Though being a Republican was a disadvantage, it didn’t affect his long-term career. He was on the Codes Committee and was asked to help craft the statute that allowed taking blood after a serious accident that included alcohol.

Judge Wesley’s judicial career began with his election to the New York State Supreme Court from the 7^th Judicial District in 1986. He served as a trial judge on the Supreme Court from 1987 to 1994, when he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, 4^th Judicial Department, by Gov. Mario Cuomo. He served from 1994 to 1996.

In 1997, Gov. George Pataki selected him to become an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court. He served on that bench until he joined the federal judiciary in 2003.

Of his many accomplishments, Judge Wesley is proud of hastening the felony screening process, which continues today in Monroe County. He considers his most significant opinion at the Court of Appeals Hamilton v. Pareto. This case dealt with the illegal sale of guns. His position asked: Should the state create liability for guns used illegally? He also dealt with a case surrounding a U.S. citizen terrorist.

Judge Wesley is a vocal supporter of high-quality public education. He enjoys talking about the superior legal education his daughter, Sara, received at UB School of Law.

He is active in the general community and said it is vital for lawyers to engage in community service. He drove ambulances and coached local basketball teams, he said. These jobs had nothing to do with his legal skills. He just wanted to give back.