
Ret. Judge Frank J. LaBuda
Chief Counsel
After completing high school in the Bronx, I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City University, NY in 1970. A few years later, I received my Juris Doctorate degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio as an Honor Graduate. I went on to become a Post-Graduate US Army Judge Advocate General at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. After this, I spent 3 years on active duty as a military prosecutor.
I moved back to New York, where I became a Sullivan County Prosecutor and Chief Assistant District Attorney, litigating and trying major felony cases—including murder—for 10 years. For the last 7 of these years, I gained experience as a private practice litigator and trial attorney for civil, medical malpractice and criminal jury trials. In 1989, I was elected to be the New York State Judge and Surrogate in Sullivan County, where I presided over negligence cases and jury trials for 23 years.
After retiring, I chose to connect with Sobo & Sobo based on our shared values of putting the needs of clients above our own. As a husband and father of four, I am a firm believer in treating all my clients as though they were part of my family, and not just another paycheck. I also frequently travel to countries around the world to counsel judges, attorneys and Universities on improving evidence and trial procedures.
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Legion #1226, Member
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #4947, Member
- Our Lady of Assumption Church in Bloomingburg, NY, Member
- Uganda Judicial Officers Association, Member
Honors & Awards
- Major in the 301st Logistical Support Group
- Over 212 published decisions as legal precedents in New York
- Decisions covered issues of evidence, negligence and trial procedures
- Wurtsboro Fire Company #1, Former President
- Sullivan County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Former President
Education
- City University of New York
- Graduated Phi Beta Kappa
- Case Western Reserve University of Law in Cleveland, OH
- Received a Juris Doctorate
- Honor Graduate
Past Employment Positions
- Post-Graduate US Army Judge Advocate General
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Active Duty Military Prosecutor
- Served in Operation Desert Storm
- And the Iraq War in 2003
- Prosecutor & Chief District Attorney
- Sullivan County, NY
- Oversaw major felony cases
- Town Justice
- Town of Mamakating, Sullivan County, NY
- Private Practice Litigator & Trial Attorney
- Sullivan County, NY
- Civil, medical malpractice and criminal jury trials
- New York State Judge and Surrogate
- Sullivan County, NY
- Presided over negligence cases and jury trials