John A. Byrnes (c. 1897 – July 24, 1963) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge from New York City.

Life

Byrnes was born in around 1897 in New York City, New York.[1]

Byrnes attended the parochial schools, Cathedral high school and college. He received an A.B. degree in 1918. He then went to Fordham University School of Law and received an LL.B. degree from there in 1923. He was admitted to the bar in 1924, and by 1926 he practiced law and had a law office at 261 Broadway. In 1925, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing the New York County 12th District. He served in the Assembly in 1926,[2] 1927,[3] 1928,[4] 1929,[5] 1930,[6] 1931,[7] 1932,[8] 1933,[9] 1934,[10] 1935,[11] and 1936.[12]

While in the Assembly, Byrnes accused some of Governor Herbert H. Lehman's anti-crime bills as "crackpot" legislation and a "hodge-podge of ill-advised measures." Lehman then singled him out in a message to the Legislature on better law enforcement, calling him a reactionary and an opponent of wholesale changes in criminal court proceedings. In 1936, Tammany Hall nominated him to succeed the retiring Justice Edward B. La Fetra to the City Court.[13] He was elected to the City Court that November, was sworn into office that December by Surrogate James A. Foley,[14] and was inducted into office in January 1937.[15]

In 1943, the 22 City Court Justices unanimously Byrnes Chief Justice of the City Court, which at 46 made him the youngest person to hold that position until then.[16] He was re-elected to the City Court in 1946.[17] In 1956, a New York City Bar Association committee launched an inquiry into Byrnes' qualifications, and then asked the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division to investigate charges of nepotism and widespread absenteeism. He admitted to having a personal relationship with three members of his staff, including a son, a sister, and his wife's cousin, although he denied the absenteeism.[18] He was re-elected to the City Court unopposed in the November election that year,[19] but in March 1957 he didn't run for re-election as Chief Justice of the City Court[20] and was succeeded to that position by Justice Peter A. Quinn.[21] He resigned as Justice of the City Court in 1959 and was succeeded as Justice by Harry Harris.[22]

Byrnes died at St. Vincent's Hospital on July 24, 1963. He was survived by his wife Mae and his sons James, John, and William.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "JOHN BYRNES, 66, EX-JUSTICE, DEAD". The New York Times. Vol. CXII, no. 38533 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. July 25, 1963. p. 25. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1926). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 91 – via FamilySearch.
  3. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1927). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 65 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1928). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 65 – via FamilySearch.
  5. ↑ "NY Assembly - New York 12 Race - Nov 06, 1928". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ "NY Assembly - New York 12 Race - Nov 05, 1929". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1931). The New York Red Book, 1931. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 75 – via FamilySearch.
  8. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1932). The New York Red Book, 1932. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 74 – via FamilySearch.
  9. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1933). The New York Red Book, 1933. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 79 – via FamilySearch.
  10. ↑ Malcolm, James, ed. (1934). The New York Red Book, 1934. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 79 – via FamilySearch.
  11. ↑ Hutchins, Mason C., ed. (1935). The New York Red Book, 1935. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 95 – via FamilySearch.
  12. ↑ Hutchins, Mason C., ed. (1936). The New York Red Book, 1936. Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 97 – via FamilySearch.
  13. ↑ "TAMMANY TO DENY POST TO GOLDSTEIN". The New York Times. Vol. LXXXV, no. 28656 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. July 9, 1936. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ "BRYNES IS SWORN IN AS CITY COURT JUSTICE". The New York Times. Vol. LXXXVI, no. 28829 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. December 29, 1936. p. 42. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  15. ↑ "HONORED BY FORMER ASSOCIATES IN ASSEMBLY". The New York Times. Vol. LXXXVI, no. 28836 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. January 5, 1937. p. 16. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Elected Chief Justice Of City Court at 46". The New York Times. Vol. XCII, no. 31029 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. January 7, 1943. p. 11. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Officials Elected". The New York Times. Vol. XCVI, no. 32428 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. November 6, 1946. p. 9. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ Dales, Douglas (October 17, 1956). "Nepotism Charged To City Court Head". The New York Times. Vol. CVI, no. 36061 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. pp. 1, 31. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ "SURROGATE RACE WON BY SAVARESE". The New York Times. Vol. CVI, no. 36082 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. November 7, 1956. p. 24. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  20. ↑ Knowles, Clayton (March 8, 1957). "TOP CITY JUSTICE TO GIVE UP POST". The New York Times. Vol. CVI, no. 36203 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. p. 18. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Bronx Justice Elected As Chief of City Court". The New York Times. Vol. CVI, no. 36214 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. March 19, 1957. p. 20. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ "New City Justice Sworn In". The New York Times. Vol. CIX, no. 37166 (Late City ed.). New York, N.Y. October 27, 1959. p. 28. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
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