Hon. Jeffrey A. Tait served as a Supreme Court Justice for the Sixth Judicial District from 2004 to 2023. He joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP as of counsel in 2024 where he now collaborates with the firm’s fellow attorneys in the Litigation and Trial, Matrimonial, Business and other practice groups while also offering Mediation services in divorce, personal injury, contractual disputes, Child Victims Act cases, in addition to other areas.
Jeffrey received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1975, and his J.D. from Western New England University in 1979.
After admission to the bar in 1980, he began his career at Twining, Nemia, Hill & Steflik, concentrating his practice in Labor and Employment law, Construction, Business and Municipal law. In 1988 he joined the firm of O’Connor, Gacioch & Pope which later became O’Connor, Gacioch, Pope & Tait continuing his practice in the areas of Labor and Employment law, Construction, Business and Municipal law.
Jeffrey was also a Business Law adjunct lecturer at Binghamton University from 1984-1994. He was a member of the New York State Committee on Professional Standards for the New York State Appellate Division, Third Department from 2002 through 2003.
In 2003, he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court for the Sixth Judicial District and was reelected in 2017 and continued in that position until he retired December 31, 2023. From 2022 through 2023 he was the assigned judge handling all pretrial motions, hearings, and discovery issues for all Child Victim Act cases in the Fifth and Sixth Judicial Districts.
Pro Bono Activities
• Member, Board of Directors of Fairview Recovery Services
Past Positions
• Member, Committee on Professional Standards of the Third Judicial Department 2002-2003
• Supreme Court Justice for the Sixth Judicial District, 2003 – 2023
• Broome County Election Commissioner
• Town of Union, Town Attorney
• Town of Binghamton, Town Attorney
