Lawyer SNAPS — Judge in Crosshairs

New York attorney Nicholas Leo has been jailed without bail after sending death threats to the judge overseeing his child custody case, telling her “I wish you die tonight in a car fire.”

Key Takeaways

Yonkers lawyer Nicholas Leo is charged with felony aggravated harassment of a judge after sending threatening text messages to Acting Supreme Court Justice Susan Capeci.
Leo explicitly threatened the judge with violence and death in multiple messages after she ruled against him in a child custody dispute.
The attorney is being held without bail at Westchester County Jail, with a protection order issued for Judge Capeci.
The case highlights the growing concern about threats against judiciary members, which Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has called “wholly unacceptable.”
The incident occurred amid heightened political violence, including the recent assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Threatening Messages Sent to Judge in Child Custody Dispute

Nicholas Leo, a Yonkers attorney, has been arrested and charged with threatening Acting Supreme Court Justice Susan Capeci who presided over his child custody case. According to prosecutors, Leo sent multiple threatening text messages to Judge Capeci after she ruled against him. The messages contained explicit death wishes and violent threats, showing a disturbing escalation in what began as a matrimonial case after Leo’s wife filed for divorce in September. The threats were allegedly sent on May 27, May 30, and June 11, becoming increasingly hostile as the case progressed.

“I’m going to beat you, I wish you die tonight in a car fire,” said Nicholas Leo.

In another message, Leo wrote: “I warned you month after month after month, If you take my kids from me for no reason, which you did, it’s not gonna go well. I hope you die.” The threatening texts were reportedly linked to Leo’s ongoing custody case and previous charges of criminal contempt. As an attorney himself, Leo would have been fully aware of the criminal nature of such threats against a judge, making the actions even more concerning to law enforcement and judicial authorities who acted swiftly to arrest him.

Legal Consequences and Judicial Response

Leo was arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated harassment of a judge and is currently being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail. White Plains City Judge John Collins Jr. presided over the arraignment and issued a temporary order of protection requiring Leo to stay away from Judge Capeci. The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office is conducting the investigation, with Leo’s next court appearance scheduled for June 18, although his legal team requested a bail hearing for June 16.

“At a time of increasing threats to members of the judiciary, the defendant’s alleged conduct is especially alarming. We must never allow this type of conduct to become normalized. The sanctity of our legal process demands nothing less,” said Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace highlighted the seriousness of the situation, particularly in the current climate where threats against judges have been increasing. Her statement referenced U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ 2024 report on the federal judiciary, where he emphasized that violence and intimidation directed at judges undermine our Republic. Leo’s legal representation has not responded to requests for comment, leaving many questions unanswered about his mental state and what may have triggered such extreme responses.

Political Violence Context and Broader Implications

Leo’s arrest coincided with the assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and an attempted assassination of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, both believed to be politically motivated. These incidents have prompted New York State leaders to speak out about political violence. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins emphasized that “political disagreement can never justify violence among us,” while Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie noted that “even at this most contentious time, violence is never the answer.”

“violence, intimidation, and defiance directed at judges because of their work undermine our Republic, and are wholly unacceptable,” said U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

The incident also follows other concerning episodes of political violence, including the assassination attempt on President Trump in 2024. Deputy Inspector Chase Maneri issued a statement on domestic violence resources and support, recognizing the potential connection between domestic disputes and broader violence. This case demonstrates how personal grievances in legal matters can escalate to criminal threats, particularly when children and custody are involved. The swift action by authorities sends a clear message that threats against judges will be taken seriously regardless of the perpetrator’s professional standing.