Sol Wachtler

Who is Sol Wachtler?

Solomon Wachtler, born April 29, 1930, is a lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1985 to 1993. Known for the remark, "A marriage license should not be viewed as a license for a husband to forcibly rape his wife with impunity", Wachtler was a key figure in making spousal rape a criminal offense. He achieved national notoriety when he was charged with, and then convicted of, acts stemming from threats he made against a former lover and her daughter. Upon conviction, Wachtler served an 11-month prison sentence.