Alexander Del Giorno

Alexander Del Giorno (February 28, 1900 – November 19, 1983) was an American politician and judge from New York. A Democrat, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1945 to 1951, as a New York City magistrate from 1952 to 1957, and as a judge of the New York Court of Claims from 1957 to 1974.

Early life and education Del Giorno was born on February 28, 1900, in Italy. He graduated from Columbia University and received a law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1924.

Judicial career

City magistrate (1952–1957) In January 1952, Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri appointed Del Giorno as a city magistrate. His departure from the Assembly created a vacancy that was filled by Thomas V. LaFauci in a special election.

In May 1953, Mayor Impellitteri reappointed Del Giorno for a ten-year term as city magistrate.

In October 1954, Del Giorno presided over the case of a 24-year-old Queens secretary accused of twice trying to run down a detective. He dismissed the felonious assault charge, ruling that she had acted out of fear and misunderstanding, but found her guilty of dangerous driving.

In January 1954, when the Mid-Manhattan Magistrate's Court was closed after 90 years, Del Giorno delivered remarks on the function of the law, describing it as representing "the highest attribute of men's moral and spiritual development."

Court of Claims (1957–1974) In March 1957, Governor Thomas E. Dewey appointed Del Giorno to the New York Court of Claims. He was reappointed in 1966.

He retired in 1971 but was chosen to serve three and a half years longer by a special act of the Legislature, finally leaving the bench in 1974.

Later life and death In 1974 and 1975, Del Giorno served as a consultant to the Legislative Commission on Eminent Domain in its recodification of the state's property laws affecting condemnation.

In 1977, he served on a commission appointed by the New York City Council to redraw councilmanic district lines.

Del Giorno died on November 19, 1983, at the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan at the age of 83. He was survived by a daughter, Ida Canales, a son, Robert, and eight grandchildren.