In January 2026, William M. Skretny assumed inactive senior status after 35 years as a district judge in the Western District of New York, including five years as chief judge. Judge Skretny’s well-deserved retirement caps a 55-year career in the legal profession, most of which he dedicated to public service as a government attorney and federal judge.

A graduate of Canisius College (now University), Judge Skretny obtained his law degree from Howard University and an L.L.M. from Northwestern University School of Law. Judge Skretny fondly remembers his time at Howard as having provided him with an experience “beyond just books” that shaped how he later approached his work on the bench. After serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and a First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of New York, Judge Skretny became a partner with the law firm of Duke, Holzman, Yaeger and Radlin. After a few years in private practice, Judge Skretny’s commitment to public service led to his tenure first as First Deputy District Attorney for Erie County, New York, and then on the staff of the special prosecutor investigating unauthorized disclosures in the ABSCAM, BRILAB, and PENDORFF undercover operations. While in Washington, D.C., Judge Skretny also served as chief counsel of the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute for trial advocacy training for government attorneys. On June 12, 1990, President George H.W. Bush nominated Judge Skretny, whom the Senate confirmed on August 4, 1990. 

ADR

Among his proudest accomplishments on the bench was his 2006 initiative that brought an alternative dispute resolution program to the Western District of New York, as a result of which, he recalls, the “culture of the bar adjusted” to become more open to mediation. 

Asked about changes during his tenure, Judge Skretny emphasized the impact that technology has had on the federal court. He anticipates that artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to substantively change the courts and the practice of law in the next few years. One thing that Judge Skretny observed had not changed, however, was the “moral compass” of the members of the bar in the Western District of New York, for whom he expressed a great deal of respect. 

In winding down his tenure on the bench, Judge Skretny was attuned to ensuring that all pending motions were resolved and that his staff could transition to new positions. His secretary of over 29 years accepted an early retirement package, his career law clerk, Andrew Moeller, will become the Clerk of the Court, and his term clerk accepted a position in New York State Supreme Court. Judge Skretny is proud of his work on the bench and will greatly miss his judicial colleagues and the attorneys and litigants who appeared before him. 

That feeling is mutual. Chief Judge Elizabeth Wolford fondly recalls that Judge Skretny was one of the first people to congratulate her on her confirmation in December 2013. She described Judge Skretny as leaving “an indelible mark on their district’s rich history” and noted his reputation for “fairness to all litigants, his attention to each case no matter how significant, his consummate professionalism, and his humanity combined with a healthy dose of humor.” And the district’s new Clerk of the Court Andrew Moeller added, “Judge Skretny had an unwavering commitment to fairness, integrity, and compassion, and a deep respect for the rule of law. He resolved each case – large or small – with thoughtful, principled decision-making that has left a lasting impact on our court, our legal community, and the law itself.”

The Federal Bar Council expresses its appreciation to Judge Skretny for his many dedicated years of public service and congratulates him on his retirement.