Cops Say A Drunk Judge Sucker Punched An Attorney

"I do justice!"

businessman fightingThis is hardly behavior befitting a judge. As reported by the New York Daily News, Robert Beltrani, an administrative law judge with the New York State Department of Parole, sucker punched a defense attorney he didn’t much like.

The bizarre incident happened on October 20, after an industry party filled with Legal Aid attorneys and other members of the criminal justice community. Sam Roberts is the Legal Aid attorney who was allegedly at the receiving end of Judge Beltrani’s fists of justice. He had to be taken to the hospital to deal with his injuries, and sources report security video captured the entire incident:

“I do justice,” the burly judge reportedly announced twice before belting attorney Sam Roberts without provocation. “I f—ing kill people.”

Roberts, 48, suffered a black eye and a separated shoulder when he hit the ground after taking a pair of unexpected blows to the head from the beefy Beltrani.

The incident was captured in its entirety on security video, sources said.

“The judge is so fat and drunk that he falls on top of (Roberts),” a witness told the Daily News. “It looked like Sam was dead . . . It was a complete sucker punch. I think in a fair fight, Sam probably knocks this guy out.”

The lawyer was rushed by ambulance to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Beltrani walked away on W. 18th St. toward Sixth Ave. and headed for home, a witness told The News.

Last week, the judge surrendered to police, and he has been put on administrative leave until an investigation can be completed. According to the victim, who spoke with prosecutors Friday, felony charges are possible.

EXCLUSIVE: Drunken judge proclaims ‘I f—ing kill people’ before he punches out Legal Aid lawyer and leaves him on sidewalk [New York Daily News]


Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored