NEW YORK JUDGE IS ARRESTED

The chief judge of New York State's highest court was arrested for allegedly threatening a former girlfriend and her daughter in an extortion scheme, authorities said.

Judge Sol Wachtler was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents Saturday and placed under guard in a hospital psychiatric ward pending a hearing Tuesday, United States Attorney Michael Chertoff told reporters.

Judge Wachtler was accused in a criminal complaint of making threatening calls to a New York woman and sending sexually explicit letters to her and her 14-year-old daughter.