G. Joseph Tauro
Encyclopedia
G. Joseph Tauro was the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
from 1970 to 1976.
Tauro was born in Lynn
to an Italian
immigrant cobbler and his wife. He graduated from Lynn public schools and attended Boston University
's College of Business Administration for a year before switching to its law school
. He received his law degree in 1927. Admitted to the bar that year, he practiced in Lynn until 1961, when he became an associate Superior Court justice.
Tauro's 1961 appointment was made by his longtime friend and business associate, Governor John A. Volpe
. A practicing attorney in Lynn, Tauro had for many years been general counsel and a director for Volpe Construction Co. At the time of his appointment to a judgeship, he was the newly elected governor's legal counsel at the State House
. The next year, Judge Tauro became chief justice of the Superior Court.
A short, compact man with dark brown eyes, a brush mustache, and wavy, snow white hair, he was noted during his years on the bench for his competence, courtesy, diligence, and preparation.
Aware of the caseloads crushing Supreme Judicial Court justices, he had advocated establishment of an intermediate appellate court to permit his court to concentrate on cases of broad social impact. Within two years of his 1970 appointment by Governor Francis W. Sargent
to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, Judge Tauro brought the project to fruition and the Appeals Court was established. He also worked to modernize state civil law and he wrote many decisions now considered landmarks in a variety of fields - contracts, torts, real property, corporations, governmental regulations and environmental protection.
Tauro was the first person appointed Chief Justice who was not already an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and he was the first Italian American
and Roman Catholic
to hold the position.
During his fourteen years on the bench, he made more than one landmark decision, including one that effectively abolished the death penalty in Massachusetts. "The state should not be in the business of taking lives," he said.
The only person to serve as chief justice of both the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court, he also became, upon his retirement in 1976, the first Chief Justice in the Supreme Judicial Court's long history to retire at age 70 in accordance with the 98th Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution
, adopted in 1972.
A resident of Swampscott
, he died at Salem Hospital. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen M. (née Petrossi); a son, Judge Joseph Louis Tauro
; two brothers, Arthur L. and Raymond; and a sister, Celia Tricca. He is predeacesed by his brother Dr. Antonio Tauro and his sister Carol A. Gioacchini.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
from 1970 to 1976.
Tauro was born in Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
to an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
immigrant cobbler and his wife. He graduated from Lynn public schools and attended Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
's College of Business Administration for a year before switching to its law school
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
. He received his law degree in 1927. Admitted to the bar that year, he practiced in Lynn until 1961, when he became an associate Superior Court justice.
Tauro's 1961 appointment was made by his longtime friend and business associate, Governor John A. Volpe
John A. Volpe
John Anthony Volpe was the 61st and 63rd Governor of Massachusetts and a U.S. Secretary of Transportation.-Early life and education:Volpe was born in 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants Vito and Filomena , who had come from Abruzzo to Boston's North End in 1905;...
. A practicing attorney in Lynn, Tauro had for many years been general counsel and a director for Volpe Construction Co. At the time of his appointment to a judgeship, he was the newly elected governor's legal counsel at the State House
Massachusetts State House
The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the "New" State House, is the state capitol and house of government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is located in Boston in the neighborhood Beacon Hill...
. The next year, Judge Tauro became chief justice of the Superior Court.
A short, compact man with dark brown eyes, a brush mustache, and wavy, snow white hair, he was noted during his years on the bench for his competence, courtesy, diligence, and preparation.
Aware of the caseloads crushing Supreme Judicial Court justices, he had advocated establishment of an intermediate appellate court to permit his court to concentrate on cases of broad social impact. Within two years of his 1970 appointment by Governor Francis W. Sargent
Francis W. Sargent
Francis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, Judge Tauro brought the project to fruition and the Appeals Court was established. He also worked to modernize state civil law and he wrote many decisions now considered landmarks in a variety of fields - contracts, torts, real property, corporations, governmental regulations and environmental protection.
Tauro was the first person appointed Chief Justice who was not already an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and he was the first Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
and Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to hold the position.
During his fourteen years on the bench, he made more than one landmark decision, including one that effectively abolished the death penalty in Massachusetts. "The state should not be in the business of taking lives," he said.
The only person to serve as chief justice of both the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court, he also became, upon his retirement in 1976, the first Chief Justice in the Supreme Judicial Court's long history to retire at age 70 in accordance with the 98th Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution
Massachusetts Constitution
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the fundamental governing document of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the 50 individual state governments that make up the United States of America. It was drafted by John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Bowdoin during the...
, adopted in 1972.
A resident of Swampscott
Swampscott, Massachusetts
Swampscott is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States located 15 miles up the coast from Boston in an area known as the North Shore. The population is 13,787...
, he died at Salem Hospital. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen M. (née Petrossi); a son, Judge Joseph Louis Tauro
Joseph Louis Tauro
Joseph Louis Tauro is a United States federal judge. He is the son of the late Massachusetts Chief Justice G. Joseph Tauro.Born in Winchester, Massachusetts, Tauro received an A.B. from Brown University in 1953 and an LL.B. from Cornell Law School in 1956. He was a First Lieutenant in the United...
; two brothers, Arthur L. and Raymond; and a sister, Celia Tricca. He is predeacesed by his brother Dr. Antonio Tauro and his sister Carol A. Gioacchini.