What did the court decide?

The court accepted Michael Pichowicz's nondisciplinary resignation from the New York bar, removed his name from the roll of attorneys, and ordered him to stop practicing law in New York immediately.

Why was this resignation called nondisciplinary?

The court characterized the resignation as nondisciplinary because it accepted Pichowicz's affidavit and the Attorney Grievance Committee did not oppose the application, indicating no ongoing disciplinary sanction prompted the removal.

Who is affected by this decision?

Michael R. Pichowicz is affected directly; he is barred from practicing law in New York and must surrender his Attorney Secure Pass. Clients and courts in New York can no longer rely on him as a New York attorney.

Can this decision be changed or reversed?

The order states the name is stricken 'until further order of this Court,' so Pichowicz could seek reinstatement or other relief only from the court through the applicable procedures; there is no routine appeal noted in the decision.

Matter of Pichowicz

Docket PM-88-26

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

OtherGranted

Filed: Apr 30, 2026 · yesterday
Jurisdiction: New York
Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Type: Opinion
Case type: Other
Disposition: Granted
Citation: 2026 NY Slip Op 02718
Docket: PM-88-26

Application for permission to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons under the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters § 1240.22(a).

Summary

The Appellate Division, Third Department granted Michael R. Pichowicz's application to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons. The court reviewed Pichowicz's sworn affidavit and the Attorney Grievance Committee's response, found him eligible under the court's rules, accepted his nondisciplinary resignation, struck his name from the roll of attorneys, and ordered that he cease practicing law in New York and surrender any Attorney Secure Pass within 30 days. The decision is administrative, not punitive, and effective immediately.

Issues Decided

Whether the attorney was eligible to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons under the court's rules.
Whether the court should accept the attorney's nondisciplinary resignation and order removal from the roll and cessation of practice in New York.

Court's Reasoning

The court relied on the attorney's sworn affidavit and the Attorney Grievance Committee's lack of opposition to determine eligibility under the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters § 1240.22. Because the requirements for a nondisciplinary resignation were met and no disciplinary impediment was identified, the court accepted the resignation, struck the attorney's name from the roll, and imposed the standard administrative orders (cease practice, surrender secure pass).

Authorities Cited

Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters22 NYCRR § 1240.22

Parties

Petitioner: Michael R. Pichowicz
Respondent: Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department
Judge: Pritzker, J.P.
Judge: Ceresia, J.
Judge: McShan, J.
Judge: Powers, J.
Judge: Ryba, J.

Key Dates

Affidavit sworn: 2026-03-16
Affidavit filed: 2026-03-18
AGC response correspondence: 2026-04-24
Decision entered: 2026-04-30

What You Should Do Next

1
Surrender Attorney Secure Pass
Pichowicz must surrender any Attorney Secure Pass to the Office of Court Administration within 30 days of the decision.
2
Cease representing clients in New York
Immediately stop practicing law in New York in any capacity, including giving legal advice or appearing in court, as ordered by the court.
3
Consult counsel about reinstatement options
If Pichowicz later seeks to resume practice in New York, he should consult counsel about the procedures to apply for reinstatement or further orders from the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the court decide?: The court accepted Michael Pichowicz's nondisciplinary resignation from the New York bar, removed his name from the roll of attorneys, and ordered him to stop practicing law in New York immediately.
Why was this resignation called nondisciplinary?: The court characterized the resignation as nondisciplinary because it accepted Pichowicz's affidavit and the Attorney Grievance Committee did not oppose the application, indicating no ongoing disciplinary sanction prompted the removal.
Who is affected by this decision?: Michael R. Pichowicz is affected directly; he is barred from practicing law in New York and must surrender his Attorney Secure Pass. Clients and courts in New York can no longer rely on him as a New York attorney.
Can this decision be changed or reversed?: The order states the name is stricken 'until further order of this Court,' so Pichowicz could seek reinstatement or other relief only from the court through the applicable procedures; there is no routine appeal noted in the decision.

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Full Filing Text

Matter of Pichowicz - 2026 NY Slip Op 02718

Matter of Pichowicz

2026 NY Slip Op 02718

April 30, 2026

Appellate Division, Third Department

In the Matter of Michael R. Pichowicz, an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 5787643)

Decided and Entered:April 30, 2026

PM-88-26

Calendar Date: April 27, 2026

Before: Pritzker, J.P., Ceresia, Mcshan, Powers And Ryba, JJ.

Michael R. Pichowicz, East Hanover, New Jersey, pro se.

Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.

Per Curiam.

Michael R. Pichowicz was admitted to practice by this Court in 2020 and lists a business address in East Hanover, New Jersey with the Office of Court Administration. Pichowicz now seeks leave to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons (
see
Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [a]). The Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) advises that it does not oppose Pichowicz's application.

Upon reading Pichowicz's affidavit sworn to March 16, 2026 and filed March 18, 2026, and upon reading the April 24, 2026 correspondence in response by the Deputy Chief Attorney for AGC, and having determined that Pichowicz is eligible to resign for nondisciplinary reasons, we grant his application and accept his resignation.

Pritzker, J.P., Ceresia, McShan, Powers and Ryba, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that Michael R. Pichowicz's application for permission to resign is granted and his nondisciplinary resignation is accepted; and it is further

ORDERED that Michael R. Pichowicz's name is hereby stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court (
see generally
Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [b]); and it is further

ORDERED that Michael R. Pichowicz is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form in the State of New York, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and Pichowicz is hereby forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority, or to give to another an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto, or to hold himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law in this State; and it is further

ORDERED that Michael R. Pichowicz shall, within 30 days of the date of this decision, surrender to the Office of Court Administration any Attorney Secure Pass issued to him.