Howard G. Munson
Encyclopedia
Howard G. Munson was a federal judge for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York. Judge Munson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
with a B.S. in 1948 and the Syracuse University College of Law
with an LL.B. in 1952. He was nominated to the court by Gerald Ford
on August 26, 1976, to a seat vacated by Edmund H. Port, confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 23, 1976, and received his commission on October 4, 1976. He served as chief judge from 1980 to 1988, assumed senior status on November 5, 1990 and retired in May 2008. Judge Munson died at age 84, five months after retiring from the bench where he served for more than 32 years.
Judge Munson’s decision Frank Langdon signed a confession admitting to arson provide the police with a scapegoat as the serial arsonist continued to burn building. The result was Frank Langdon was forced from the community and his father, Grant Langdon was denied financing, resulting the loss of the family farm on the courthouse steps. Grant Langdon moved to Ohio with just $200 in his pocket and filed 05:98-cv-00173 pro se. Munson again threw the case out of court, but a motion was made for sanctions against the lawyers who were all aware of the investigation that cleared Frank Langdon of any crime. The case was filed in Syracuse and made answerable in Albany on Judge Munson’s regular court date. Langdon drove from Ohio to Albany to find an empty courtroom. Judge Munson later said there was no record of the motion in Syracuse, although Albany had answering papers on file. Langdon filed affidavits and a request to impeach Judge Munson for altering court records shortly before the Judge resigned.
This can be varified by Rep. Jean Schmidt, R Cincinnati. Her office sent the request to impeach Judge Munson to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee for indictment.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
with a B.S. in 1948 and the Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law , founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in Upstate New York Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL), founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law...
with an LL.B. in 1952. He was nominated to the court by Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
on August 26, 1976, to a seat vacated by Edmund H. Port, 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 September 23, 1976, and received his commission on October 4, 1976. He served as chief judge from 1980 to 1988, assumed senior status on November 5, 1990 and retired in May 2008. Judge Munson died at age 84, five months after retiring from the bench where he served for more than 32 years.
Langdon case
One of Judge Munson’s most controversial cases appears in the book, Scandal in the Courtroom, Found Guilty without Trial. It was a civil rights suit to recover damages from the malicious prosecution of Frank Langdon for arson, 89-cv-1400. Munson ruled that Frank Langdon could not sue for damages because his arrest was proper due to the existence of a confession. The Langdon case was compromised when the law firm defending him became County Attorneys for Columbia County. They had been asked to sue for damages prior to their appointment. According to the book that remains unchallenged, the charges in the criminal case were dropped before trial when District Attorney Paul Czajka discovered the Sheriff, Paul Proper, established a badly burned man started the fire. Frank Langdon’s arrest had been based on a statement the police wrote that he was forced to sign without the presence of a lawyer after he had requested he be taken home from the Sheriff’s office. Miranda had not been administered.Judge Munson’s decision Frank Langdon signed a confession admitting to arson provide the police with a scapegoat as the serial arsonist continued to burn building. The result was Frank Langdon was forced from the community and his father, Grant Langdon was denied financing, resulting the loss of the family farm on the courthouse steps. Grant Langdon moved to Ohio with just $200 in his pocket and filed 05:98-cv-00173 pro se. Munson again threw the case out of court, but a motion was made for sanctions against the lawyers who were all aware of the investigation that cleared Frank Langdon of any crime. The case was filed in Syracuse and made answerable in Albany on Judge Munson’s regular court date. Langdon drove from Ohio to Albany to find an empty courtroom. Judge Munson later said there was no record of the motion in Syracuse, although Albany had answering papers on file. Langdon filed affidavits and a request to impeach Judge Munson for altering court records shortly before the Judge resigned.
This can be varified by Rep. Jean Schmidt, R Cincinnati. Her office sent the request to impeach Judge Munson to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee for indictment.