Orison S. Marden (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Orison Swett Marden was a New York City
lawyer
, a leader of the Legal Aid Society
, and a president of the American Bar Association
, the New York State Bar Association
, and the New York City Bar Association.
, Long Island
on May 22, 1906. His father, Orison Swett Marden
, after whom he was named, was a well-known lawyer, physician, and writer of books on self-improvement.
Marden attended the McBurney School
in Manhattan
, and received his Bachelor of Arts
and Juris Doctor
degrees from New York University
in 1926 and 1929.
in 1930. He became a partner in 1946, and later became head of the firm’s litigation department.
, Marden was for many years a prominent advocate for defendants’ rights and the legal rights of the poor. In the 1930s he served as one of twelve charter members of an “Associates Committee” to expand the services of the Legal Aid Society
and to recruit young lawyers to work in pro bono
and indigent defense. In 1949, Marden was instrumental in expanding the Legal Aid Society’s services to the Federal Court System. From 1970 until his death, Marden was also chairman of the board of the Legal Aid Society.
Marden’s interest in legal service extended to the national and international arenas as well. He served as vice president of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association from 1949 to 1955, and as president from 1955 to 1959. Along with Sir Sydney Littlewood, he co-chaired the International Bar Association
’s special committee to organize the International Legal Aid Organization, and was its first president when it was established in Oslo
, Norway
in 1960.
In addition to his prominent role in legal aid, Marden also served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1960 to 1962, the New York State Bar Association
from 1964 to 1965, and the American Bar Association
from 1966 to 1967. From 1973 to 1975, he was president of the Institute of Judicial Administration
to establish model public defender
offices in several U.S. cities. He was a prominent advocate for an appointive judiciary and argued for the improvement of the quality of lawyers in the Federal Court system. In 1972, he joined with seven other prominent lawyers in publicly denouncing New York City’s system of electing judges as a “farce and charade.”
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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, a leader of the Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
, and a president of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
, and the New York City Bar Association.
Early life and education
Orison Marden was born in Sea CliffSea Cliff, New York
The Village of Sea Cliff is a village located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 4,995...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
on May 22, 1906. His father, Orison Swett Marden
Orison Swett Marden
Orison Swett Marden was an American writer associated with the New Thought Movement. He also held a degree in medicine, and was a successful hotel owner.Marden was born in Thornton Gore, New Hampshire to Lewis and Martha Marden...
, after whom he was named, was a well-known lawyer, physician, and writer of books on self-improvement.
Marden attended the McBurney School
McBurney School
McBurney School was a college preparatory school in Manhattan run by the YMCA of Greater New York. Among its alumni are actors Henry Winkler and Richard Thomas , novelist J. D...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and received his Bachelor of Arts
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...
and Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degrees 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 1926 and 1929.
Private Practice
Marden began his career at White & CaseWhite & Case
White & Case was founded in New York in 1901 and has grown into one of the world's leading global law firms. The firm has since expanded, and has practice groups in emerging markets including Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in Europe...
in 1930. He became a partner in 1946, and later became head of the firm’s litigation department.
Public Service
Outside of his specialty in corporate lawCorporate law
Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another. Corporate law is a part of a broader companies law...
, Marden was for many years a prominent advocate for defendants’ rights and the legal rights of the poor. In the 1930s he served as one of twelve charter members of an “Associates Committee” to expand the services of the Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
and to recruit young lawyers to work in pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
and indigent defense. In 1949, Marden was instrumental in expanding the Legal Aid Society’s services to the Federal Court System. From 1970 until his death, Marden was also chairman of the board of the Legal Aid Society.
Marden’s interest in legal service extended to the national and international arenas as well. He served as vice president of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association from 1949 to 1955, and as president from 1955 to 1959. Along with Sir Sydney Littlewood, he co-chaired the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
’s special committee to organize the International Legal Aid Organization, and was its first president when it was established in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1960.
In addition to his prominent role in legal aid, Marden also served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1960 to 1962, the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
from 1964 to 1965, and the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
from 1966 to 1967. From 1973 to 1975, he was president of the Institute of Judicial Administration
Government Service
Marden was also a long-time advocate for court reform. In 1966, he was appointed by the New York State Court of Appeals to serve as chairman of the Judicial Commission to Reapportion New York State. From 1963 to 1970, as president of the National Defender Project, Marden also administered a six million dollar grant from the Ford FoundationFord Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
to establish model public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
offices in several U.S. cities. He was a prominent advocate for an appointive judiciary and argued for the improvement of the quality of lawyers in the Federal Court system. In 1972, he joined with seven other prominent lawyers in publicly denouncing New York City’s system of electing judges as a “farce and charade.”