Richard Joseph Arcara
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph Arcara is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
, Arcara received a B.A.
from St. Bonaventure University
in 1962 and a J.D.
from Villanova University School of Law
in 1965. He was a Captain in the United States Army
, Military Police Corps from 1966 to 1967. He was in private practice in Buffalo, New York
from 1968 to 1969. He joined the office of the United States Attorney
of the Western District of New York in 1969, first as an assistant until 1973, then as a first assistant from 1973 to 1974, finally becoming the district's United States from 1975 to 1981. He was then an Erie County, New York
district attorney from 1982 to 1988.
On August 7, 1987, Arcara was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
vacated by John T. Elfvin
, who assumed senior status. Arcara was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 19, 1988, and received his commission on February 22, 1988. He became chief judge
of the district in 2003.
Arcara presided over the trial of James Charles Kopp
, who was convicted in 2003 for the 1998 sniper-style murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian, an American physician from Amherst, New York who performed abortion
s.
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....
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Arcara 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 St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
in 1962 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Villanova University School of Law
Villanova University School of Law
Villanova University School of Law is the law school of Villanova University, the oldest and largest Catholic University in Pennsylvania. Villanova was founded 150 years ago by the Augustinians, a prominent Roman Catholic teaching order...
in 1965. He was a Captain in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Military Police Corps from 1966 to 1967. He was in private practice in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
from 1968 to 1969. He joined the office of the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
of the Western District of New York in 1969, first as an assistant until 1973, then as a first assistant from 1973 to 1974, finally becoming the district's United States from 1975 to 1981. He was then an Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
district attorney from 1982 to 1988.
On August 7, 1987, Arcara was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
The United States District Court for the Western District of New York is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises only a part of New York....
vacated by John T. Elfvin
John T. Elfvin
John Thomas Elfvin was an American lawyer and jurist who served as a Federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Elfvin became a federal judge following his nomination to the court by President Gerald Ford in 1974...
, who assumed senior status. Arcara 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 February 19, 1988, and received his commission on February 22, 1988. He became 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 district in 2003.
Arcara presided over the trial of James Charles Kopp
James Charles Kopp
James Charles Kopp is an American citizen who was convicted in 2003 for the 1998 sniper-style murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian, an American physician from Amherst, New York who performed abortions. Prior to his capture, Kopp was on the FBI's list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. On June 7, 1999 he had...
, who was convicted in 2003 for the 1998 sniper-style murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian, an American physician from Amherst, New York who performed abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
s.