F. Emmett Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
F. Emmett Fitzpatrick is an American politician, attorney and professor. A noted criminal defense attorney, he served as the District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
between 1974 and 1978.
, and received his BA
in political science
from Saint Joseph's University
(then known as Saint Joseph's College) in 1952. He received his LL.B degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
in 1955.
In 1973, he was recruited by Philadelphia
Democratic Party
leaders to run against incumbent Republican
District Attorney Arlen Specter
. He went on to win the election handily, and took office the following January. During his tenure as District Attorney, he sought to shake-up the day-to-day operations of the office, whose perceived ineffectiveness was a major theme of his campaign against Specter.
Fitzpatrick was, however, the subject of several ethics-related complaints during his time as District Attorney. Critics questioned the handling of a cocktail party held after Fitzpatrick's election in which attorneys who may have had future dealings with the district attorney's office paid fifty dollars to attend. All proceeds from the reception went to Fitzpatrick, and the matter was recommended to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
's disciplinary board for investigation. Fitzpatrick was also criticized for sentence recommendations he made as District Attorney for individuals he had previously defended while in private practice.
In the 1977 Democratic primary, he was defeated for renomination by Ed Rendell
, who campaigned against perceived corruption within the District Attorney's office, and went on to win the general election.
. He also testified as a legal expert in various court proceedings and appeared frequently as a legal commentator on radio and television programs, including WPVI's "Inside Story". Fitzpatrick also went-on to found his own law firm, based in Philadelphia.
District Attorney of Philadelphia
The Office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia is the largest prosecutor's office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The current District Attorney of Philadelphia is Seth...
between 1974 and 1978.
Early life and education
Fitzpatrick grew-up in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and received his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
(then known as Saint Joseph's College) in 1952. He received his LL.B degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
in 1955.
Professional career
Fitzpatrick initially gained notoriety through his representation of defendants in several high-profile federal criminal cases, including RICO Act-related prosecutions.District Attorney's office
He served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1956 through 1962, and as First Assistant District Attorney from 1962 through 1966.In 1973, he was recruited by Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
leaders to run against incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
District Attorney Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
. He went on to win the election handily, and took office the following January. During his tenure as District Attorney, he sought to shake-up the day-to-day operations of the office, whose perceived ineffectiveness was a major theme of his campaign against Specter.
Fitzpatrick was, however, the subject of several ethics-related complaints during his time as District Attorney. Critics questioned the handling of a cocktail party held after Fitzpatrick's election in which attorneys who may have had future dealings with the district attorney's office paid fifty dollars to attend. All proceeds from the reception went to Fitzpatrick, and the matter was recommended to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
's disciplinary board for investigation. Fitzpatrick was also criticized for sentence recommendations he made as District Attorney for individuals he had previously defended while in private practice.
In the 1977 Democratic primary, he was defeated for renomination by Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
, who campaigned against perceived corruption within the District Attorney's office, and went on to win the general election.
Post-political career
After his defeat, Fitzpatrick taught numerous educational seminars and an advanced trial techniques course at the Widener University School of LawWidener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
. He also testified as a legal expert in various court proceedings and appeared frequently as a legal commentator on radio and television programs, including WPVI's "Inside Story". Fitzpatrick also went-on to found his own law firm, based in Philadelphia.