District Attorney
STAFF
STAFF
Paul Czajka, District Attorney
Born in Hudson and raised on his family’s dairy farm in Livingston, Paul Czajka is currently serving in his fourth, non-consecutive term as District Attorney.
In 1987 and again in 1991, Columbia County voters elected Paul as their District Attorney. In 1994, they elected Paul County Judge, a post he held until 2011 when he again ran successfully for District Attorney.
As DA, Paul has reinstated his policy, in place from 1988 through 1994, of prohibiting the plea-bargaining of indictments. In other words, every count of every indictment filed by a Columbia County Grand Jury is resolved by verdict of a trial jury, guilty plea or decision of the Judge on a motion. Consequently, statistics compiled by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services have consistently demonstrated Paul’s high standing.
Throughout his entire career as judge, a succession of administrative judges asked Paul to serve in every superior court (i.e., Supreme, County, Family and Surrogate Courts), in all seven (7) counties of the Third Judicial District. He had 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.
Paul served as the Columbia County Public Defender from 1986 through 1987, representing indigent defendants in the County, Family, Town, Village and City courts. He served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1981 through 1985 after first having been appointed by Honorable Charles E. Inman.
Paul also worked as attorney for the Town of Germantown, the Germantown Fire District and the Livingston Fire District. He served at no charge as legal representative for the Southern Columbia Ambulance Squad.
Paul practiced law in Columbia County while continuing to work on his family’s farm. From 1979 through 1984, local farmers elected Paul to represent them as chairperson, vice chairperson and member of the USDA's Agricultural Service Community Committee.
From 1974 to 1975, Paul served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. In The Philippines, Paul supervised small-scale agricultural loans, now known as micro-loans.
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Assistant District Attorneys
Paul appointed Jim Carlucci as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2012 and named him Chief Assistant District Attorney in 2015. Jim has had a varied legal career in Columbia County. He was Kinderhook Town Judge, an Assistant District Attorney and a Conflict Defender. Jim had practiced law in his own office in Hudson since 2001 and had been working in Columbia, Ulster and Albany Counties since being admitted to the Bar in 1990. As a law student, Jim was an intern for then Public Defender Paul Czajka.
Paul appointed Ryan Carty as a full-time Assistant District Attorney after his graduation from Albany Law School and admission to the New York State Bar in 2015. Ryan received his B.A. from Syracuse University and his J.D. from Albany Law School and began his legal career as an Intern in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office in 2012 under District Attorney Czajka. In addition, Ryan briefly clerked for the Columbia County Court, as well as interned with the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Ryan was born and raised in Columbia County.
Paul asked Carl G. Whitbeck, Jr. to serve as part-time Assistant District Attorneys in 2012. He had previously served as an ADA in Columbia County in 1976. Carl has an extensive background in civil practice and is AV rated by Martindale Hubble.
Paul appointed Joyce Crawford as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2016. Joyce was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2014, and the New York Bar in 2016. She received her B.A. from Northeastern University, and her J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. Before the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Joyce advised Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device companies on compliance.
Paul appointed Krista Kline as a full-time Assistant District Attorney after her graduation from Albany Law School and admission to the New York State Bar in 2017. She received her B.A. from SUNY Albany. As a law student, Krista was an Intern in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office under District Attorney Czajka.
Paul appointed Kyle W. Patzwahl as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2022 following his admission to the New York Bar. He received his J.D. and M.B.A. from Boston College and his B.A. from The George Washington University. Before the Columbia County Attorney's Office, Kyle worked in private practice representing clients on real estate, business, and banking transactions. Kyle was born and raised in Columbia County and attended Ichabod Crane Central School.
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Born in Hudson and raised on his family’s dairy farm in Livingston, Paul Czajka is currently serving in his fourth, non-consecutive term as District Attorney.
In 1987 and again in 1991, Columbia County voters elected Paul as their District Attorney. In 1994, they elected Paul County Judge, a post he held until 2011 when he again ran successfully for District Attorney.
As DA, Paul has reinstated his policy, in place from 1988 through 1994, of prohibiting the plea-bargaining of indictments. In other words, every count of every indictment filed by a Columbia County Grand Jury is resolved by verdict of a trial jury, guilty plea or decision of the Judge on a motion. Consequently, statistics compiled by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services have consistently demonstrated Paul’s high standing.
Throughout his entire career as judge, a succession of administrative judges asked Paul to serve in every superior court (i.e., Supreme, County, Family and Surrogate Courts), in all seven (7) counties of the Third Judicial District. He had 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.
Paul served as the Columbia County Public Defender from 1986 through 1987, representing indigent defendants in the County, Family, Town, Village and City courts. He served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1981 through 1985 after first having been appointed by Honorable Charles E. Inman.
Paul also worked as attorney for the Town of Germantown, the Germantown Fire District and the Livingston Fire District. He served at no charge as legal representative for the Southern Columbia Ambulance Squad.
Paul practiced law in Columbia County while continuing to work on his family’s farm. From 1979 through 1984, local farmers elected Paul to represent them as chairperson, vice chairperson and member of the USDA's Agricultural Service Community Committee.
From 1974 to 1975, Paul served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. In The Philippines, Paul supervised small-scale agricultural loans, now known as micro-loans.
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Assistant District Attorneys
Paul appointed Jim Carlucci as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2012 and named him Chief Assistant District Attorney in 2015. Jim has had a varied legal career in Columbia County. He was Kinderhook Town Judge, an Assistant District Attorney and a Conflict Defender. Jim had practiced law in his own office in Hudson since 2001 and had been working in Columbia, Ulster and Albany Counties since being admitted to the Bar in 1990. As a law student, Jim was an intern for then Public Defender Paul Czajka.
Paul appointed Ryan Carty as a full-time Assistant District Attorney after his graduation from Albany Law School and admission to the New York State Bar in 2015. Ryan received his B.A. from Syracuse University and his J.D. from Albany Law School and began his legal career as an Intern in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office in 2012 under District Attorney Czajka. In addition, Ryan briefly clerked for the Columbia County Court, as well as interned with the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Ryan was born and raised in Columbia County.
Paul asked Carl G. Whitbeck, Jr. to serve as part-time Assistant District Attorneys in 2012. He had previously served as an ADA in Columbia County in 1976. Carl has an extensive background in civil practice and is AV rated by Martindale Hubble.
Paul appointed Joyce Crawford as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2016. Joyce was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2014, and the New York Bar in 2016. She received her B.A. from Northeastern University, and her J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. Before the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Joyce advised Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device companies on compliance.
Paul appointed Krista Kline as a full-time Assistant District Attorney after her graduation from Albany Law School and admission to the New York State Bar in 2017. She received her B.A. from SUNY Albany. As a law student, Krista was an Intern in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office under District Attorney Czajka.
Paul appointed Kyle W. Patzwahl as a full-time Assistant District Attorney in 2022 following his admission to the New York Bar. He received his J.D. and M.B.A. from Boston College and his B.A. from The George Washington University. Before the Columbia County Attorney's Office, Kyle worked in private practice representing clients on real estate, business, and banking transactions. Kyle was born and raised in Columbia County and attended Ichabod Crane Central School.
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District Attorney's Investigator William Hogencamp retired as a Senior Manager for the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services in 2009. He has been Austerlitz Town Judge, Chatham Town Supervisor, and a police officer for the Columbia County Sheriff, Chatham Police Department and New York State Park Police. He was an Army Military Police Dog Handler from 1971-1973 and also served in the New York Army National Guard and US Army Reserves as a Captain in the Military Police. |
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Staff 1987 - 1994
