Lawrence W. Pierce

Lawrence Warren Pierce (December 31, 1924 – February 5, 2020) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Education and career Pierce was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Joseph's University in 1948. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Fordham University School of Law in 1951. He was in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946 and served in the 92nd Infantry Division in Italy. He became a sergeant. He was a staff attorney of the Legal Aid Society of New York City from 1951 to 1953. He was an assistant district attorney of Kings County, New York from 1954 to 1961. He was a deputy commissioner of police, New York City from 1961 to 1963. He was the Director of the New York State Division for Youth from 1963 to 1966. He was Chairman of the New York State Narcotic Addiction Control Commission from 1966 to 1970. He was a visiting professor of the Graduate School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany, SUNY from 1970 to 1971.

Federal judicial service

Pierce was nominated by President Richard Nixon on April 26, 1971, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge William Bernard Herlands. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 20, 1971, and received commission the same day. His service was terminated on November 30, 1981, due to elevation to the Second Circuit.

Genealogy search

Pierce devoted several years to researching his family history and discovered two black forebears who were brothers, Richard and Anthony Pierce, both seamen. They met two Dutch sisters who were indentured servants, Hannah and Marie Van Aca. The brothers bought their freedom and married them. They settled in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Richard and Hannah's son, Adam, served in the New Jersey Militia, which fought in the Revolutionary War at the Battles of Crosswicks and Monmouth. Based on his historical lineage, Pierce joined the S.A.R. and the Sons of the Revolution at Fraunces Tavern, where he served as a vice-president. Family members thereafter became members of the S.A.R. and D.A.R. For consecutive years, Ebony Magazine listed Pierce as one of the most influential African Americans in the United States.