Judge Michael Pastrick Orchard Park Town Justice

"Justice is what love looks like in public. Sometimes it’s patient. Sometimes it’s kind. It’s always humble, and it doesn’t boast or brag. And it also has to be tough.  

"The core responsibilities and requirements of this job are the willingness to answer the call at any hour of the night; the dexterity and vigilance to recognize when a treatment option might be appropriate; and the courage to look someone in the eye and take their property, or take their money, or take their freedom, in the name of the greater good. 

"Our court is at the vanguard of recent modernizations in the judiciary.  I am proud to have brought treatment court services to Orchard Park.  Thanks to our collective efforts, our town now has access to Veterans, Mental Health, DWI, Drug, and Opioid Court services.  All of those services have been secured at no cost to Orchard Park taxpayers. 

"I am also proud to have created the 'Classroom to Courtroom' program for Orchard Park students looking for a sneak preview of a legal career.  Our court, in many ways, is a community court.  We have used the power and platform of that body to host dozens of local high school, college, and law school students in an internship program designed to help the court and to boost their legal careers.  

"Those efforts—coupled with a thoughtful and willing approach to consequence—are reflective of a broader aim of avoiding a 'wash, rinse, repeat' approach to justice.  They also reflect an intent to use the court’s place in the criminal justice system to help the community at large and to address broader concerns such as organized retail theft and driving while intoxicated, which impact a range of aspects of life, including affordability, economic stability, and public safety.  

"I hope to continue that work and progress at our town court as I seek re-election, and I would be deeply honored and humbled by your support."

-Judge Michael Pastrick 

• Brought Veterans, Mental Health, DWI, Drug, and Opioid Court Services to Orchard Park at no cost to Orchard Park taxpayers. 

• Created the " Classroom to Courtroom" program for Orchard Park students. 

• Modernized and economized court operations with outside grants. 

• Built a Youth Driver Insight program for young speeding drivers. 

• Instituted direct release under supervision monitoring in response to statewide changes to bail laws. 

• Regularly issues and has published written decisions to promote clarity and consistency in the law, including these writings (all available online through traditional legal publishers, and at no cost through Google Scholar):

               -People v Coppola (86 Misc3d 1238[A] [2025]); 

               -People v Trondson (86 Misc3d 1233[A] [2025]); 

               -People v Armeli (86 Misc3d 1223[A] [2025]); 

               -People v Williams (86 Misc3d 1202[A] [2025]); 

               -People v Armeli (87 Misc3d 655 [2025);

               -People v Braymiller (85 Misc3d 1224[A] [2025); 

               -People v Bauer (85 Misc3d 1225[A] [2025]); 

               -People v Braymiller (85 Misc3d 1206 [A] [2025]); 

               -People v Anzalone (85 Misc3d 648 [2024]); 

              -People v Armeli (84 Misc3d 1210[A] [2024]); and

              -People v Hartman (83 Misc3d 1256[A] [2024]).