District Attorney Paul Czajka

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Paul Czajka’s roots run deep in Columbia County – a community in which he was born, raised, and to which he dedicated three decades of public service ensuring that it is a safe and secure home in which to live, work, raise a family and retire.

It is Paul’s respect of the law, commitment to justice and concern for his friends, neighbors and fellow citizens that encouraged him to switch legal careers and to seek to become Columbia County District Attorney in the November 8th election.

From his roots as the grandson of immigrants, son of dairy farmers, and the proud father of three Eagle Scouts, Paul developed into a strong, principled leader. He has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, and those he has served and protected during his 30 years in the courtroom – first as Assistant District Attorney, then Public Defender, then District Attorney, and, most recently, as Columbia County Judge.

Born in Hudson and raised on the family farm in Livingston, Paul knows Columbia County and its people. His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic – one that has served him well as a farmer and as a public servant, whether working in the dairy barn or in the courtroom.

A graduate of Germantown Central School, Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Albany and then a Juris Doctorate Degree from Western New England School of Law.

Before he completed his 2nd year of college, Paul demonstrated his caring and commitment to those in need by volunteering for the United States Peace Corps. As a volunteer in the Philippines, Paul supervised small-scale agricultural loans, later known as micro-loans, to farmers.

Completing his education, Paul returned home, passed the New York State Bar and began practicing law, while continuing to work on his family farm. From 1979 through 1984, local farmers selected Paul to represent them as chairperson, vice-chairperson and member of the USDA’s Agricultural Service Community Committee.

He also served at no charge as legal representative for the Southern Columbia Ambulance Squad.

Following his wish to serve the public, Paul accepted appointment as assistant district attorney in 1981, a part-time position he held until 1985. He also worked as attorney for the Town of Germantown, the Germantown Fire District and the Livingston Fire District. For several years, Paul has been a social member of the North Chatham Fire Company. He also coached in the Northern Columbia Little League.

Paul also gained experience on the other side of the courtroom, serving as Columbia County Public Defender from 1986 through 1987, representing indigent defendants in the County, Family, town, village and city courts.

Columbia County’s voters, in 1987 and again in 1991, demonstrated their faith in Paul’s ability to firmly and fairly prosecute criminal cases by electing him as their District Attorney — a position in which he would demonstrate compassion, commitment, professionalism and leadership for the seven years.

As District Attorney, Paul attained a reputation as a tough prosecutor in dealing with criminals. In one of his first moves, he stopped the rampant practice of plea-bargaining – a practice that often allowed wrongdoers to escape punishment with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

Paul’s reputation as a District Attorney tough on crime was reflected in statewide statistics compiled by NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, that, when analyzed, placed Columbia County at or second to the top in key prosecutorial categories including refusal to plea bargain, percentage of felons and drug offenders sent to prison, drug indictments (by population) and sentences to prison (by population).

In 1994, Paul was asked to transfer his tireless work ethic and impartiality in upholding the law to the position of Columbia County Judge, a position he held with dignity, modesty and a straightforward style that reflected his respect for the law for over sixteen years. Throughout his entire career as judge, a succession of administrative judges have asked Paul to serve in every superior court in all seven (7) counties of the Third Judicial District. He has been honored to have served for several years as a full-time acting Justice of the NYS Supreme Court and the Third Judicial District representative to the NYS County Judges’ Association. Although all judges are regularly the subject of complaints by disgruntled litigants, be they criminals or family court respondents, Paul is proud of the fact that never once has he been the subject of an adverse decision of any type by the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct, the state agency solely responsible for investigating complaints of misconduct against all New York State judges.

While wearing a jurist’s black robe and wielding a gavel from the bench has been challenging and rewarding for Paul, it was the position of District Attorney for which he yearned – a calling that prompted him to forego the remaining years of his judgeship to again enter the political fray as a candidate for the position from which he believes he can best serve victims of crime, the citizens and taxpayers of Columbia County.

Paul has pledged that, upon his return to the District Attorney’s office, he will personally investigate crime and assist police officers in their investigations, personally go to court, and personally prosecute crimes. He is further committed to ensuring that his assistant prosecutors will do so as well. Further, he will be accessible, responsive and responsible.

Paul Czajka believes that the position of District Attorney is the single most important position in Columbia County for implementation of justice, and that he has the vast experience, knowledge and leadership abilities necessary to fulfill the commitment.

As District Attorney, Paul Czajka will continue to uphold his roots in Columbia County and his pursuit of making our community a better, safer, more secure place for all its citizens.