Commercial litigator and longtime Farrell Fritz partner James Wicks has left his practice to become the Eastern District of New York’s newest magistrate judge, courthouse officials confirmed this week.

Judge James M. Wicks Judge James M. Wicks

Wicks is a former law clerk of U.S. District Senior Judge Arthur Spatt. Spatt died in June at 94. Farrell Fritz partner John McEntee said Wicks remained close to his former boss and will occupy his former space in the Central Islip federal courthouse.