S. Samuel DiFalco
Encyclopedia
S. Samuel DiFalco was a New York Supreme Court
Justice and surrogate court judge.
Born in Italy, DiFalco was a Democrat
who attempted a run for State Assembly
in 1935. He became a justice of the New York Supreme Court
in 1949, and was later elected to New York surrogate court. DiFalco was a member of Tammany Hall
. In the 1967 constitutional convention
, DiFalco successfully opposed an effort to abolish the surrogate court and merge its jurisdiction
into the state supreme court. In May 1976, he was indicted along with Justice Irving H. Saypol
on official misconduct
charges in an alleged scheme to obtain appraisal and auction commission funds for Saypol's son; the charges were dismissed. In February 1978, DiFalco was again indicted, this time for criminal contempt in connection with stating to a grand jury
that he could not remember having spoken to an assistant about arranging favorable rulings for his son's law firm
. DiFalco died of a sudden heart attack while dining with friends, before the case went to trial.
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...
Justice and surrogate court judge.
Born in Italy, DiFalco was a Democrat
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...
who attempted a run for 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 1935. He became a justice of 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...
in 1949, and was later elected to New York surrogate court. DiFalco was a member of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. In the 1967 constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
, DiFalco successfully opposed an effort to abolish the surrogate court and merge its jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
into the state supreme court. In May 1976, he was indicted along with Justice Irving H. Saypol
Irving H. Saypol
Irving Howard Saypol was a United States attorney for the Southern District of New York and New York Supreme Court Justice...
on official misconduct
Misconduct
A misconduct is a legal term meaning a wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts....
charges in an alleged scheme to obtain appraisal and auction commission funds for Saypol's son; the charges were dismissed. In February 1978, DiFalco was again indicted, this time for criminal contempt in connection with stating to 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...
that he could not remember having spoken to an assistant about arranging favorable rulings for his son's law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
. DiFalco died of a sudden heart attack while dining with friends, before the case went to trial.
Sources
- The Political Graveyard: Politicians in Trouble or Disgrace: New York
- New York Times, February 6, 1978.