James J. Crisona
Encyclopedia
James J. Crisona was a lawyer, Democratic
politician and judge from Queens
, New York City
.
Crisona received a law degree from New York University
in 1931 and subsequently joined Manhattan firm Crisona Brothers, where he was senior partner
from 1945 to 1957.
While still practicing law, Crisona won election to the New York State Assembly
in 1946, and then to the New York State Senate
in 1955, representing Queens constituencies in both offices. Among his legislative achievements, he is credited with helping transfer control of LaGuardia Airport
and Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy Airport) to the Port Authority
.
In 1957, he won the election for Queens borough president
against the Republican incumbent James A. Lundy
. Crisona was accused of offering bribes during the campaign by James A. Phillips, then a leader of the Queens County Democrats and a rival for the nomination. He appeared voluntarily before a grand jury
, which cleared him of all charges in 1959. He took office in 1958, but only stayed until the end of the year, when he stepped down to take a seat on the New York Supreme Court
. He remained on the bench until 1976 when he returned to lawyering.
Crisona died in a Manhattan nursing home in 2003.
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...
politician and judge from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Crisona received a law degree from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1931 and subsequently joined Manhattan firm Crisona Brothers, where he was senior partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
from 1945 to 1957.
While still practicing law, Crisona won election to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1946, and then to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
in 1955, representing Queens constituencies in both offices. Among his legislative achievements, he is credited with helping transfer control of LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
and Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy Airport) to the Port Authority
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
.
In 1957, he won the election for Queens borough president
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
against the Republican incumbent James A. Lundy
James A. Lundy
James A. Lundy was a Republican politician from Queens, New York City known for serving as Queens Borough President and chairman of the State Public Service Commission....
. Crisona was accused of offering bribes during the campaign by James A. Phillips, then a leader of the Queens County Democrats and a rival for the nomination. He appeared voluntarily before a grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
, which cleared him of all charges in 1959. He took office in 1958, but only stayed until the end of the year, when he stepped down to take a seat on the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
. He remained on the bench until 1976 when he returned to lawyering.
Crisona died in a Manhattan nursing home in 2003.