Peter T. Farrell

Peter T. Farrell (November 12, 1900 – November 9, 1992) was an American judge from Queens, New York City, who served as a judge on Queens County Court and the New York Supreme Court, where he primarily handled criminal cases. Farrell was best known for presiding over the trial of bank robber Willie Sutton, who was sentenced to 30 to 120 years in Attica State Prison, before Farrell suspended the sentence in 1969 because of Sutton's deteriorating health. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1922 and was awarded his law degree in 1925 by the Fordham University School of Law.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens Co., 3rd D.) in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936.

He was a member of the New York State Senate (3rd D.) from 1937 to 1943, sitting in the 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd and 164th New York State Legislatures. He resigned his seat in 1943 to become a judge of the Queens County Court.

Judicial career In 1943, Farrell was elected to serve on the Queens County Court and spent most of his judicial career on criminal cases. He served as the court's senior judge from 1945 until 1961, when the court was abolished and its responsibilities consolidated into the New York Supreme Court. He was the senior judge in Queens on the Supreme Court, Criminal Term, until he stepped down in 1976. Sutton would ultimately die in 1980.

Death Farrell died at age 91 on November 9, 1992, of pneumonia at his home in Manhasset, New York. He was survived by his wife, the former Agnes Byrne, as well as by two daughters and 10 grandchildren.