Donald E. Belfi
Encyclopedia
Judge Donald E. Belfi, born January 21, 1936, was a lawyer
and politician
in Nassau County, New York
.
In 1994, he presided over the trial of Long Island Rail Road
shooter Colin Ferguson.
in English
from Georgetown University
in 1957 and Doctor of Jurisprudence from Fordham University
School of Law in 1960. At Fordham, he was selected by New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan
to join his office upon graduation, as part of the Honor's Program.
, and from 1962 to 1974 he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County. In 1975, he was elected to the Nassau County District Court
bench on the Republican
and Conservative tickets. He was re-elected in 1980 on the Democratic
, Republican, Conservative
, and Liberal
tickets. He was elected to the County Court
of Nassau County in 1984, re-elected in 1994, and ran unsuccessfully for re-election in 2004 on the Republican and Conservative tickets. After leaving public service Belfi joined the Manhattan practice of Murray, Frank & Sailer LLP
as senior counsel.
At his retirement from the bench on 14 February 2005, Carolyn McCarthy
paid tribute to him in the House of Representatives
. McCarthy's husband and son were both shot by Ferguson in 1994.
His voluntary activities included serving as commissioner of Rockville Centre
Little League
, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus
, the Association for the Help of Retarded Children
, and the St. Agnes Cathedral
Parish Council. He also contributed over 20 years to Georgetown University as both an interviewer and a recruiter for the school. His honors included the Fraternal Order of Court Officers Bench and Bar Award, the Criminal Courts Bar Association's Norman F. Lent
Award, the Fordham Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award, the DeStefano IndustriesAnnual Award, and the Court Officer's Benevolent Association of Nassau County Fidelis Juris Award.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
.
In 1994, he presided over the trial of Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
shooter Colin Ferguson.
Early life
Born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, Belfi gained his BABachelor 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...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1957 and Doctor of Jurisprudence from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
School of Law in 1960. At Fordham, he was selected by New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan
Frank Hogan
Frank Smithwick Hogan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Dubbed "Mr. Integrity" due to his perceived honesty and incorruptibility, he was D.A. of New York County for more than 30 years.-Life and career:...
to join his office upon graduation, as part of the Honor's Program.
Career
From 1960 to 1962, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and from 1962 to 1974 he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County. In 1975, he was elected to the Nassau County District 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...
bench on the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Conservative tickets. He was re-elected in 1980 on the Democratic
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...
, Republican, Conservative
Conservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
, 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. He was elected to the County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
of Nassau County in 1984, re-elected in 1994, and ran unsuccessfully for re-election in 2004 on the Republican and Conservative tickets. After leaving public service Belfi joined the Manhattan practice of Murray, Frank & Sailer LLP
Murray, Frank & Sailer LLP
Murray Frank LLP is a law firm based in New York City that specializes in class action litigation, particularly in cases involving federal securities law, federal antitrust law, ERISA, and state consumer protection law. Notable CasesThe firm traces its origin to 1963, and has litigated the...
as senior counsel.
At his retirement from the bench on 14 February 2005, Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn McCarthy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in central Long Island in west-central Nassau County and includes Mineola, the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Garden City, Hempstead,...
paid tribute to him in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. McCarthy's husband and son were both shot by Ferguson in 1994.
His voluntary activities included serving as commissioner of Rockville Centre
Rockville Centre, New York
Rockville Centre is a village located in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 24,023. The town is made up of middle to upper middle class residents, most of the wealthier residents residing on the north side of town near the...
Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, the Association for the Help of Retarded Children
Association for the Help of Retarded Children
AHRC New York City helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families...
, and the St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York, on Long Island. It is the seat of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Most Reverend William Murphy is the ordinary bishop of the Diocese and pastor of the Cathedral parish....
Parish Council. He also contributed over 20 years to Georgetown University as both an interviewer and a recruiter for the school. His honors included the Fraternal Order of Court Officers Bench and Bar Award, the Criminal Courts Bar Association's Norman F. Lent
Norman F. Lent
Norman Frederick Lent is a former Republican-Conservative member of the United States House of Representatives from New York....
Award, the Fordham Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award, the DeStefano IndustriesAnnual Award, and the Court Officer's Benevolent Association of Nassau County Fidelis Juris Award.