Bernard S. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Bernard Stern Meyer was an American lawyer and politician.
in 1936, and from University of Maryland School of Law
in 1938. Soon after, he was admitted to the bar in Maryland. he married and they had children.
In 1941, he joined the staff of the General Counsel of the U.S. Treasury
. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy
in the Pacific Theater of Operations
. After the war, he was admitted to the bar in New York, and commenced practice in 1947.
In 1958, he was elected to a fourteen-year term on the New York Supreme Court
. In 1972
, he ran on the Democratic and Liberal
tickets for the New York Court of Appeals
but was defeated.
In 1975, he was appointed Special Deputy Attorney General
to probe into the aftermath of the Attica Prison riot in 1971. His principal task was to evaluate a charge that crimes alleged to have been committed by law enforcement officers during the siege were later covered up by the State. In December 1975, after an eight-month inquiry, Meyer released the first volume of his findings, a 570-page document that came to be known as the Meyer Report. The report concluded that, despite "serious errors in judgment," there had been "no intentional cover-up" by the prosecution.
In 1979, he was appointed by Governor Hugh L. Carey to the Court of Appeals, to the seat vacated by the appointment of Lawrence H. Cooke
as Chief Judge
. Meyer retired from the Court of Appeals at the end of 1986 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law as a senior partner in the firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein in Garden City, New York
.
He co-authored, with Burton C. Agata and Seth H. Agata, The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1932-2003, published in 2006 (with his own short bio on page 31), which continues the work The History of the New York Court of Appeals 1847-1932 which was published by Judge Francis Bergan
in 1985.
Life
He graduated from Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1936, and from University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
in 1938. Soon after, he was admitted to the bar in Maryland. he married and they had children.
In 1941, he joined the staff of the General Counsel of the U.S. Treasury
Comptroller of the Treasury
The Comptroller of the Treasury was an official of the United States Department of the Treasury from 1789 to 1817. According to section III of the Act of Congress establishing the Treasury Department, it is the comptroller's duty to...
. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
. After the war, he was admitted to the bar in New York, and commenced practice in 1947.
In 1958, he was elected to a fourteen-year term on 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 1972
New York state election, 1972
The 1972 New York state election was held on November 7, 1972, to elect three judges of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-Background:...
, he ran on the Democratic and Liberal
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
tickets for the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
but was defeated.
In 1975, he was appointed Special Deputy Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
to probe into the aftermath of the Attica Prison riot in 1971. His principal task was to evaluate a charge that crimes alleged to have been committed by law enforcement officers during the siege were later covered up by the State. In December 1975, after an eight-month inquiry, Meyer released the first volume of his findings, a 570-page document that came to be known as the Meyer Report. The report concluded that, despite "serious errors in judgment," there had been "no intentional cover-up" by the prosecution.
In 1979, he was appointed by Governor Hugh L. Carey to the Court of Appeals, to the seat vacated by the appointment of Lawrence H. Cooke
Lawrence H. Cooke
Lawrence Henry Cooke was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1979 to 1984.-Life:...
as Chief Judge
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals refers to the position of chief judge on the New York Court of Appeals.The chief judge supervises the seven-judge Court of Appeals...
. Meyer retired from the Court of Appeals at the end of 1986 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law as a senior partner in the firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein in Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
.
He co-authored, with Burton C. Agata and Seth H. Agata, The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1932-2003, published in 2006 (with his own short bio on page 31), which continues the work The History of the New York Court of Appeals 1847-1932 which was published by Judge Francis Bergan
Francis Bergan
Francis Bergan was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of Michael Bergan and Mary Bergan. He was educated at the New York State College for Teachers. Then he worked as a court reporter for the Knickerbocker Press, and studied law. He graduated LL.B...
in 1985.
Sources
- http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/elecbook/thereshallbe/pg104.htm Court of Appeals judges
- Bernard S. Meyer, 89; Served on New York's Top Court in NYT on September 8, 2005
- Bernard S. Meyer Biography