Lloyd Francis MacMahon
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Francis MacMahon was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Elmira, New York
, MacMahon received an A.B.
from Cornell University
in 1936 and an LL.B. from Cornell Law School
in 1938. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1944 to 1945. He was in private practice in New York City
from 1942 to 1953. He was a Chief assistant U.S. attorney of Southern District of New York from 1953 to 1955. He was a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 1955. He was in private practice in New York City
from 1955 to 1959.
Judge MacMahon served as a chief assistant United States attorney in Manhattan from 1953 to 1957. In 1955 he successfully prosecuted the Mafia boss Frank Costello for income-tax evasion.
MacMahon was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on March 10, 1959, to a seat vacated by Lawrence E. Walsh. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 9, 1959, and received his commission on September 10, 1959. He served as chief judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1980-1982. He assumed senior status
on May 31, 1982. MacMahon served in that capacity until April 8, 1989, due to his death
Judge MacMahon presided over some of the most famous trials of organized-crime figures, during which he gained a reputation as a fair, diligent judge and as a teacher and role model for his law clerks, who included the former United States Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani and David Denton, chief of the criminal division in the United States Attorney's office in Manhattan.
In 1961 Judge MacMahon presided over the conviction of the Bonanno crime family boss Carmine Galante and many other defendants in a drug-trafficking case. During the trial, the defendants displayed outrageous behavior, throwing objects , shouting obscenities – and eventually, prompting Judge MacMahon to have them handcuffed, shackled and gagged so that the trial could proceed. Many judges still view his action as a precedent that has enabled them to establish control in unruly courtrooms.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani refers to Judge MacMahon as his mentor. In Giuliani's book "Leadership" he sites how on September 11th he found himself asking how Judge MacMahon would handle the crisis.
When former Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner passed away, Giuliani said that Steinbrenner reminded him of Judge MacMahon, a natural leader and a good man.
'
Personal Life Judge MacMahon married his high school sweetheart, with whom he had 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
Judge MacMahon died in 1989 in White Plains, New York from a cerebral hemorrhage.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, MacMahon received an A.B.
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...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1936 and an LL.B. from Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
in 1938. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1944 to 1945. He was in private practice in 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...
from 1942 to 1953. He was a Chief assistant U.S. attorney of Southern District of New York from 1953 to 1955. He was a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 1955. He was in private practice in 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...
from 1955 to 1959.
Judge MacMahon served as a chief assistant United States attorney in Manhattan from 1953 to 1957. In 1955 he successfully prosecuted the Mafia boss Frank Costello for income-tax evasion.
MacMahon was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on March 10, 1959, to a seat vacated by Lawrence E. Walsh. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 9, 1959, and received his commission on September 10, 1959. He served as chief judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1980-1982. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on May 31, 1982. MacMahon served in that capacity until April 8, 1989, due to his death
Judge MacMahon presided over some of the most famous trials of organized-crime figures, during which he gained a reputation as a fair, diligent judge and as a teacher and role model for his law clerks, who included the former United States Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani and David Denton, chief of the criminal division in the United States Attorney's office in Manhattan.
In 1961 Judge MacMahon presided over the conviction of the Bonanno crime family boss Carmine Galante and many other defendants in a drug-trafficking case. During the trial, the defendants displayed outrageous behavior, throwing objects , shouting obscenities – and eventually, prompting Judge MacMahon to have them handcuffed, shackled and gagged so that the trial could proceed. Many judges still view his action as a precedent that has enabled them to establish control in unruly courtrooms.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani refers to Judge MacMahon as his mentor. In Giuliani's book "Leadership" he sites how on September 11th he found himself asking how Judge MacMahon would handle the crisis.
When former Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner passed away, Giuliani said that Steinbrenner reminded him of Judge MacMahon, a natural leader and a good man.
'
Personal Life Judge MacMahon married his high school sweetheart, with whom he had 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
Judge MacMahon died in 1989 in White Plains, New York from a cerebral hemorrhage.