Charles L. Brieant
Encyclopedia
Charles LaMonte Brieant, Jr. (March 13, 1923 – July 20, 2008) was a United States federal judge
.
, Brieant was in the United States Army Air Corps
during World War II
, from 1943 to 1946, and then received a B.A.
from Columbia University
in 1947, and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
in 1949. He was in private practice in White Plains, New York
from 1949 to 1971. While practicing, Brieant served as Water Commissioner for Ossining from 1949 to 1951, at which point he was elected Town Justice. He went on to serve as Village Attorney for Briarcliff Manor (1958–1959), Special Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County (1958–1959) and a Town Supervisor of Ossining (1960–1963). He was elected to the Westchester County legislature in 1970.
nominated Brieant to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
vacated by John F. McGohey. Brieant was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 29, 1971, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge for the Southern District from 1986 to 1993, replacing Constance Baker Motley
, who assumed senior status. In the late 1980s, he was sent a box of chocolates anonymously. His wife ate several of the candies, and became violently ill. Investigation determined that the chocolates had been sent by John Buettner-Janusch
, the former chairman of the New York University
(NYU) Anthropology Department, who had been sentenced to prison by Judge Brieant after being convicted of making illegal drugs. Buettner-Janusch was convicted of attempted murder.
Brieant was known as "Charlie" by his close friends and colleagues. He was also renowned by members of the bar for his Rollie Fingers
-style mustache. For many years, Brieant displayed in his judicial chambers a painted portrait of Judge Martin Manton
, a former Chief Judge
of the Second Circuit
who was convicted and imprisoned for accepting bribes from litigants. When asked why he had rescued the portrait of the disgraced Manton from obscurity and given it a prominent place in his chambers, Brieant would tell visitors that the painting was a reminder of the fallibility of judges.
Brieant took senior status
on May 31, 2007, serving in that capacity until his death. Judge Brieant died on July 20, 2008.http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/OPINION/807230312/-1/SPORTS The federal courthouse in White Plains, New York
, where Brieant sat for the last several years of his judicial career, was thereafter renamed the Charles L. Brieant United States Courthouse in his honor.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Early life, education, and career
Born 1923 in Ossining, New YorkOssining (village), New York
Ossining is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining.-Geography:Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson River....
, Brieant was in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1943 to 1946, and then received a B.A.
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...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1947, and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1949. He was in private practice in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
from 1949 to 1971. While practicing, Brieant served as Water Commissioner for Ossining from 1949 to 1951, at which point he was elected Town Justice. He went on to serve as Village Attorney for Briarcliff Manor (1958–1959), Special Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County (1958–1959) and a Town Supervisor of Ossining (1960–1963). He was elected to the Westchester County legislature in 1970.
Federal judicial service
On June 24, 1971, President Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
nominated Brieant to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
vacated by John F. McGohey. Brieant was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 29, 1971, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge for the Southern District from 1986 to 1993, replacing Constance Baker Motley
Constance Baker Motley
Constance Baker Motley was an African American civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, state senator, and President of Manhattan, New York City.-Early Life and Academics:...
, who assumed senior status. In the late 1980s, he was sent a box of chocolates anonymously. His wife ate several of the candies, and became violently ill. Investigation determined that the chocolates had been sent by John Buettner-Janusch
John Buettner-Janusch
John Buettner-Janusch , often called "B-J", was an American physical anthropologist who pioneered the application of molecular evolution methods, such as protein sequence comparison, to the field of primate evolution...
, the former chairman of the 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...
(NYU) Anthropology Department, who had been sentenced to prison by Judge Brieant after being convicted of making illegal drugs. Buettner-Janusch was convicted of attempted murder.
Brieant was known as "Charlie" by his close friends and colleagues. He was also renowned by members of the bar for his Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
-style mustache. For many years, Brieant displayed in his judicial chambers a painted portrait of Judge Martin Manton
Martin Manton
Martin Thomas Manton was a prominent United States federal Judge in New York City, sometimes remembered for having resigned and served time in prison for accepting bribes while in office. In 1916 he was the youngest federal judge in the United States.-Biography:He was born on August 2, 1880...
, a former Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
who was convicted and imprisoned for accepting bribes from litigants. When asked why he had rescued the portrait of the disgraced Manton from obscurity and given it a prominent place in his chambers, Brieant would tell visitors that the painting was a reminder of the fallibility of judges.
Brieant took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on May 31, 2007, serving in that capacity until his death. Judge Brieant died on July 20, 2008.http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/OPINION/807230312/-1/SPORTS The federal courthouse in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, where Brieant sat for the last several years of his judicial career, was thereafter renamed the Charles L. Brieant United States Courthouse in his honor.