Arthur J. Cooperman
Encyclopedia
Arthur J. Cooperman is a New York State Supreme Court Justice. He is most notable for his decision acquitting the police officers in the Sean Bell case.
Justice Cooperman received his degree in English from N.Y.U. in 1955. From 1955 to 1957, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. After his honorable discharge, and after contemplating a career in journalism, he enrolled at the N.Y.U. School of Law, and earned his LL.B. in 1960. He has three children.
From 1960 to 1966, Justice Cooperman was associated with several general practice law firms, concentrating on commercial and negligence litigation. For the next two years, he served as Assistant Counsel on the Committee on Grievances, at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
In 1968, Justice Cooperman was elected to the New York State Assembly, and served the 24th Assemble District (Jamaica and Flushing) from 1969 to 1972, and the 27th A.D. (Jamaica, Flushing) from 1973 to 1979. Among his accomplishments, Assemblyman Cooperman was the primary sponsor of the Jury Reform Act and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, during the 1977 Session; he was the sponsor of the equitable distribution bill which became law in 1980; he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce from 1975 to 1976; and also served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary from 1976 to 1979.
While serving in the Assembly, Justice Cooperman maintained a private law practice, consisting of negligence and commercial litigation, real estate, Surrogate's matters, defense at attorney disciplinary proceedings, and no-fault arbitration.
He began his career in the judiciary upon his election to the Civil Court in 1980. In July of that year, he was appointed Acting Supreme Court Justice in the Criminal Term. Justice Cooperman ascended to the Supreme Court in 1983, after his election in November, 1982. Justice Cooperman began in the Civil Term, and was transferred back and forth to Criminal term, where he now presides.
Justice Cooperman received his degree in English from N.Y.U. in 1955. From 1955 to 1957, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. After his honorable discharge, and after contemplating a career in journalism, he enrolled at the N.Y.U. School of Law, and earned his LL.B. in 1960. He has three children.
From 1960 to 1966, Justice Cooperman was associated with several general practice law firms, concentrating on commercial and negligence litigation. For the next two years, he served as Assistant Counsel on the Committee on Grievances, at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
In 1968, Justice Cooperman was elected to the New York State Assembly, and served the 24th Assemble District (Jamaica and Flushing) from 1969 to 1972, and the 27th A.D. (Jamaica, Flushing) from 1973 to 1979. Among his accomplishments, Assemblyman Cooperman was the primary sponsor of the Jury Reform Act and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, during the 1977 Session; he was the sponsor of the equitable distribution bill which became law in 1980; he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce from 1975 to 1976; and also served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary from 1976 to 1979.
While serving in the Assembly, Justice Cooperman maintained a private law practice, consisting of negligence and commercial litigation, real estate, Surrogate's matters, defense at attorney disciplinary proceedings, and no-fault arbitration.
He began his career in the judiciary upon his election to the Civil Court in 1980. In July of that year, he was appointed Acting Supreme Court Justice in the Criminal Term. Justice Cooperman ascended to the Supreme Court in 1983, after his election in November, 1982. Justice Cooperman began in the Civil Term, and was transferred back and forth to Criminal term, where he now presides.