In a decision issued Thursday, the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court suspended attorney John Aretakis from practicing law for one year after finding him guilty of professional misconduct.

Aretakis was charged with engaging in frivolous conduct by making false accusations against judges that were both prejudicial and malicious, false statements of law and fact, and engaging in conduct that adversely reflected on his fitness as an attorney.

In their decision, Appellate Division justices outlined various incidents from 2005 to 2007 where Aretakis had been sanctioned by multiple judges for his behavior in the court room.

The accounts of Aretakis’ conduct included being “sloppy and unprofessional,” alleging theories about the Catholic Church and federal government, and making baseless assertions in court only for the purpose of harassing defendants in a case.
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Aretakis initially responded by saying the following:

"Bishop Hubbard has used all of his resources, influence, and power to try to muzzle me for the past six years due to my effective work in exposing sexual predators in ministry.

I call upon Governor Paterson to investigate this unfair and unprecedented punishment. I am one of only two attorneys in all of New York state who fights sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

I will continue to work in every capacity that I am allowed to in order to expose those who sexually abuse children and those individuals such as Bishop Hubbard who continue to cover up these crimes."
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Aretakis is currently in the Bahamas for the weekend and plans to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon at his home in North Greenbush to answer further questions.

The Catholic Church initially chose not to comment on his suspension, which will take effect in 20 days and will forbid him from practicing law in any form for one year, according to the decision.