Kevin Duffy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Duffy
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Duffy in 2014
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office January 10, 1998 – September 30, 2016 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office October 17, 1972 – January 10, 1998 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Irving Ben Cooper |
| Succeeded by | Richard M. Berman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kevin Thomas Duffy
January 10, 1933 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 2020 (aged 87) Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Spouse |
Irene Krumeich
(m. 1957) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Fordham University (A.B.) Fordham University School of Law (LL.B.) |
Kevin Thomas Duffy (born January 10, 1933 – died April 1, 2020) was an American lawyer and a United States district judge. He served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kevin Thomas Duffy was born on January 10, 1933, in the Bronx, a part of New York City. He went to Fordham University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1954. Later, he studied law at the Fordham University School of Law and received his law degree in 1958.
After law school, Duffy worked as a clerk for Judge J. Edward Lumbard from 1955 to 1958. He then became an Assistant United States Attorney from 1958 to 1959. He also served as the assistant chief of the Criminal Division from 1959 to 1961.
Before becoming a judge, Duffy worked in private law firms. He was an associate at Whitman, Ransom & Coulson from 1961 to 1966. Then, he became a partner at Gordon & Gordon from 1966 to 1969. From 1969 to 1972, he was the New York regional administrator for the Securities and Exchange Commission. This was a busy time for Wall Street, and many believe he helped create the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
Becoming a Federal Judge
On September 25, 1972, President Richard Nixon chose Kevin Duffy to be a judge. He was nominated for a position on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The United States Senate approved his nomination on October 12, 1972.
He officially became a judge on October 17, 1972. At that time, he was the youngest federal judge in the country. On January 10, 1998, he became a Senior Judge. This means he took on a reduced workload. He retired from active service on September 30, 2016.
Important Cases He Handled
Judge Duffy presided over many significant cases during his time on the bench. He was known for staying calm and fair, even during very complex trials.
- In 1977, he even threatened New York Governor Hugh Carey. This was because the governor did not follow Duffy's order to add bridge tolls, which was required by the Clean Air Act of 1963.
- In 1983, he oversaw a trial related to the Brink's robbery (1981). This robbery was carried out by the Black Liberation Army.
- In 1985, he managed a large trial involving members of the Gambino crime family. He made a smart decision to separate the defendants into smaller groups. This made the trial easier to manage.
- Judge Duffy also presided over the trial of the main people involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. This was a very important case. Some lawyers praised his fair handling of the case.
- He also oversaw the trial of Ramzi Yousef. Yousef was the mastermind behind the Bojinka plot. This was a plan to hijack planes and crash them into the Pacific Ocean. A higher court praised Judge Duffy for his careful and fair handling of these complex trials.
- In civil cases, he handled difficult situations like the Iranian Assets Litigation. This case dealt with Iranian government money after American hostages were taken.
- He also presided over a copyright case involving the rapper Biz Markie. This case was about using a sample from another artist's song without permission.
Other Activities and Teaching
Besides his work as a judge, Kevin Duffy was also a professor. He taught at several universities:
- Brooklyn Law School (1975–1980), teaching about securities.
- York University Law School (1983–1984), teaching trial advocacy.
- Pace University School of Law (1984–1986), also teaching trial advocacy.
- Fordham University School of Law (1993–2020), where he taught trial advocacy for many years.
Personal Life and Passing
Kevin Duffy lived in Greenwich, Connecticut and Southampton, New York. He was married to Irene, and they had four children together. Because he handled many important terrorism cases, the United States Marshals Service protected him for ten years.
Kevin Thomas Duffy passed away on April 1, 2020, at the age of 87. He died from complications related to COVID-19 at Greenwich Hospital.
See also
- List of United States federal judges by longevity of service
