Hon. Joseph P. McCarthy ’61

Segment Synopsis: Attended Canisius HS and College, then UB for accounting then applied to law school. Knew lawyers who gave him a favorable impression. Went to UB because of location, most students were local, five women. Eagle Street Campus. Attrition of students. Challenging time. Friendships today: Nowak, Tom Wolf, Dick Gordon, Paul Weaver, Notaro, Greene. Study group was congresswoman, three judges, and president of bar. Dean Hyman specialist in obtuse references. Towster humorous. Lenhoff had strong accent. McCarthy ran cafeteria for students at 77 West Eagle. Graduated 49 students.Offered Law Review, turned it down. Could work summers to pay for college then. Women in class, treated the same. Seeing trials at the court and the attorneys at work.

Keywords: Attrition; Canisius College; Canisius High School; Class Composition; Eagle Street Campus; Employment / Jobs / Wages; Perceptions; Trial Practice; Women and Gender

Subjects: EDUCATION; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW: GENDER

Partial Transcript: "The courtroom is very dramatic place and the right case, the right facts, can bring a lot of emotion not only to you but those who are in the arena there and for that reason I always liked the courtroom."

Segment Synopsis: Goes to west coast after bar exam, reunited with Tom Wolf who was working for Allstate. Came back and worked for Bob Murphy. UB taught basics to pass the bar. Likes teaching and the courtroom. Stays engaged. 15 years on committee of 10 developing criminal jury instructions for NYS. Could pass the bar in parts, substantive, procedure. Has a son practicing law in DA's office. Remembers studying and Dems have dinner at Statler, he goes and sees JFK was speaker that night. Met JFK and Bobby years later. Mike Dillon was elected and offered him job. Joined DA's office 1964 remained for 13 years. Moved up the ranks quickly. Elected county court judge in 1978. Tried many cases, felt favored to move up so quickly. Statutory changes in laws, living through history. Teaching criminal law. Has son on Buffalo Board of Education. Advice? He would advise new ADAs to treat other lawyers with respect, be themselves. "The courtroom is very dramatic place and the right case, the right facts, can bring a lot of emotion not only to you but those who are in the arena there and for that reason I always liked the courtroom."

Keywords: Alumni; Bar Admissions and Exams; Bar Association; Buffalo History; Career / Early; Elections / Political History; Kennedy, John F; Kennedy, Robert; Teaching Law

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; LAW; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; TEACHING