On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department disbarred attorney Julio Ceasar Galarza, effective immediately, following a disciplinary proceeding initiated by the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District. The court’s decision found Galarza guilty of multiple counts of professional misconduct related to his representation of a client identified as JH.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Julio Ceasar Galarza,” with case number 2023-00071.
The disciplinary proceeding stemmed from five charges outlined in a petition filed on December 16, 2022, alleging violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct. These charges centered on Galarza’s representation of JH in several legal matters, including a real estate dispute, traffic court, criminal court, mental health court, and a personal injury claim.
The court found that Galarza failed to provide JH with written letters of engagement or retainer agreements for the traffic court, criminal court, mental health court, and Court of Claims matters, violating Rule 1.5(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The court also found that he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by failing to provide written agreements, violating Rule 8.4(d).
Further, Galarza was found to have charged excessive fees for his services, including billing JH for non-legal activities such as supervising her move and picking up her mail, in violation of Rule 1.5(a). The court also determined that Galarza engaged in a conflict of interest by representing JH when his professional judgment was at risk of being adversely affected by his own financial interests, violating Rule 1.7. This conflict arose from Galarza’s role as both JH’s attorney and her agent under a power of attorney, as well as his position as trustee of a revocable living trust he created for her benefit. The trust stipulated that Galarza would inherit the balance of the trust if JH died without children.
Evidence presented during the hearing revealed that Galarza had used funds from the trust account for personal expenses, including payments to his Lowe’s and Home Depot credit card accounts. He also made payments to himself from the trust account totaling $45,330.25 between August and December 2020.
The Grievance Committee’s case was supported by exhibits and testimony, while Galarza presented character witnesses and testified on his own behalf. A Special Referee, Arthur J. Cooperman, sustained all five charges of professional misconduct in a report dated May 2, 2024. The Grievance Committee subsequently moved to confirm the report and impose discipline, while Galarza argued that only one charge should be sustained and requested a lesser sanction.
In its decision, the court granted the Grievance Committee’s motion to confirm the Special Referee’s report and to strike paragraph 66 of Galarza’s amended answer, which contained affirmative defenses deemed non-compliant with CPLR 3014 and 3018. The court emphasized the severity of Galarza’s misconduct, citing his self-dealing and exploitation of a vulnerable client.
The court ordered that Galarza’s name be stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, and that he comply with the rules governing the conduct of disbarred attorneys. He is also prohibited from practicing law in any form and must return any secure pass issued by the Office of Court Administration.
According to Avvo, Mr.Galarza was a debt collection lawyer in Massapequa Park, NY. He acquired his law license in New York in 1995.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
