Acting Erie County Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski died by suicide Tuesday, days after most of his cases were transferred off his docket following the execution of search warrants at his home in Amherst, New York.

Michalski, 61, started serving on the bench in 2006 after working as an assistant district attorney, a town prosecutor and an attorney in private practice. He is survived by his wife, son and three daughters, his attorney and friend Terrence Connors of the Buffalo firm Connors LLP said Wednesday.