G. Joseph Tauro: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American judge (1906–1994)}} |
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{{infobox officeholder |
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|name=G. Joseph Tauro |
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|office=Chief Justice of the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] |
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|term_start=1970 |
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|term_end=1976 |
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|predecessor=[[Raymond Sanger Wilkins]] |
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|successor=[[Edward F. Hennessey]] |
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|office2=Associate Justice of the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] |
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|term_start2=1961 |
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|term_end2=1970 |
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|birth_date={{birth date|1906|1|10}} |
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|birth_place=[[Lynn, Massachusetts]], U.S. |
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|death_date={{death date and age|1994|10|6|1906|1|10}} |
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|death_place=[[Salem Hospital (Massachusetts)|Salem Hospital]], [[Salem, Massachusetts]], U.S. |
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|spouse=Helen M. Petrossi |
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|children=[[Joseph L. Tauro]] |
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|residence=[[Swampscott, Massachusetts]], U.S. |
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|alma_mater=[[Boston University]]<br>[[Boston University School of Law]] |
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|profession=Attorney, judge |
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}} |
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== Biography == |
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Tauro was born in [[Lynn, Massachusetts |
Tauro was born in [[Lynn, Massachusetts]] to an [[Italy|Italian]] immigrant cobbler and his wife. He graduated from Lynn public schools and attended [[Boston University]]'s College of Business Administration for a year before switching to [[Boston University School of Law|its law school]]. He received his law degree in 1927. Admitted to the bar that year, he practiced in Lynn until 1961, when he became an associate Superior Court justice. |
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Tauro's 1961 appointment was made by his longtime friend and business associate, Governor [[John A. Volpe]]. A practicing attorney in Lynn, Tauro had for many years been general counsel and a director for Volpe Construction Co. At the time of his appointment to a judgeship, he was the newly elected governor's legal counsel at the [[Massachusetts State House|State House]]. The next year Judge Tauro became chief justice of the Superior Court. |
Tauro's 1961 appointment was made by his longtime friend and business associate, Governor [[John A. Volpe]]. A practicing attorney in Lynn, Tauro had for many years been general counsel and a director for Volpe Construction Co. At the time of his appointment to a judgeship, he was the newly elected governor's legal counsel at the [[Massachusetts State House|State House]]. The next year, Judge Tauro became chief justice of the Superior Court. |
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A short, compact man with dark brown eyes, a brush mustache and wavy, snow white hair, he was noted during his years on the bench for his competence, courtesy, diligence and preparation. |
A short, compact man with dark brown eyes, a brush mustache, and wavy, snow white hair, he was noted during his years on the bench for his competence, courtesy, diligence, and preparation. |
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Aware of the caseloads crushing Supreme Judicial Court justices, he had advocated establishment of an intermediate appellate court to permit |
Aware of the caseloads crushing Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) justices, he had advocated establishment of an intermediate appellate court to permit the high court to concentrate on cases of broad social impact. Within two years of his 1970 appointment by Governor [[Francis W. Sargent]] to the position of Chief Justice, Judge Tauro brought the project to fruition and the Appeals Court was established. He also worked to modernize state civil law and he wrote many decisions now considered landmarks in a variety of fields - contracts, torts, real property, corporations, governmental regulations and environmental protection. |
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Tauro was the first [[Italian American]] and [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] to hold the position of Chief Justice of the SJC. |
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During his |
During his fourteen years on the bench, he made more than one landmark decision, including one that effectively abolished the death penalty in Massachusetts. "The state should not be in the business of taking lives," he said. |
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The only person to serve as chief justice of both the |
The only person to serve as chief justice of both the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court, he also became, upon his retirement in 1976, the first Chief Justice in the Supreme Judicial Court's long history to retire at age 70 in accordance with the 98th Amendment to the [[Massachusetts Constitution]], adopted in 1972. |
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A resident of [[Swampscott, Massachusetts|Swampscott]], he died at Salem Hospital. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen M. (''née'' Petrossi); a son, Judge Joseph |
A resident of [[Swampscott, Massachusetts|Swampscott]], he died at Salem Hospital. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen M. (''née'' Petrossi); a son, Judge [[Joseph Louis Tauro]]; two brothers, Arthur L. and Raymond; and a sister, Celia Tricca. He is predeceased by his brother Dr. Antonio Tauro and his sister Carol A. Gioacchini. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*"G. Joseph Tauro, was chief justice of SJC and Superior Court; at 88"; ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', October 7, 1994. |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201115/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8298938.html "G. Joseph Tauro, was chief justice of SJC and Superior Court; at 88"]; ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', October 7, 1994, via [[HighBeam Research]]. |
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{{succession box | title=[[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court|Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] | before=[[Raymond Sanger Wilkins]] | after=[[Edward F. Hennessey]] | years=1970 – 1976}} |
{{succession box | title=[[List of justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court|Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] | before=[[Raymond Sanger Wilkins]] | after=[[Edward F. Hennessey]] | years=1970 – 1976}} |
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{{end |
{{s-end}} |
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{{Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tauro, Joseph}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tauro, Joseph}} |
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[[Category:1906 births]] |
[[Category:1906 births]] |
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[[Category:1994 deaths]] |
[[Category:1994 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Boston University School of Law alumni]] |
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[[Category:Chief justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Massachusetts Superior Court justices]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:People from Lynn, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:People from Swampscott, Massachusetts]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American judges]] |
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[[Category:Catholics from Massachusetts]] |
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{{Massachusetts-state-judge-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 06:09, 16 August 2024
G. Joseph Tauro | |
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Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court | |
In office 1970–1976 | |
Preceded by | Raymond Sanger Wilkins |
Succeeded by | Edward F. Hennessey |
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court | |
In office 1961–1970 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S. | January 10, 1906
Died | October 6, 1994 Salem Hospital, Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 88)
Spouse | Helen M. Petrossi |
Children | Joseph L. Tauro |
Residence(s) | Swampscott, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Alma mater | Boston University Boston University School of Law |
Profession | Attorney, judge |
G. Joseph Tauro (January 10, 1906 – October 6, 1994) was the chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1970 to 1976.
Biography
[edit]Tauro was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to an Italian immigrant cobbler and his wife. He graduated from Lynn public schools and attended Boston University's College of Business Administration for a year before switching to its law school. He received his law degree in 1927. Admitted to the bar that year, he practiced in Lynn until 1961, when he became an associate Superior Court justice.
Tauro's 1961 appointment was made by his longtime friend and business associate, Governor John A. Volpe. A practicing attorney in Lynn, Tauro had for many years been general counsel and a director for Volpe Construction Co. At the time of his appointment to a judgeship, he was the newly elected governor's legal counsel at the State House. The next year, Judge Tauro became chief justice of the Superior Court.
A short, compact man with dark brown eyes, a brush mustache, and wavy, snow white hair, he was noted during his years on the bench for his competence, courtesy, diligence, and preparation.
Aware of the caseloads crushing Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) justices, he had advocated establishment of an intermediate appellate court to permit the high court to concentrate on cases of broad social impact. Within two years of his 1970 appointment by Governor Francis W. Sargent to the position of Chief Justice, Judge Tauro brought the project to fruition and the Appeals Court was established. He also worked to modernize state civil law and he wrote many decisions now considered landmarks in a variety of fields - contracts, torts, real property, corporations, governmental regulations and environmental protection.
Tauro was the first Italian American and Roman Catholic to hold the position of Chief Justice of the SJC.
During his fourteen years on the bench, he made more than one landmark decision, including one that effectively abolished the death penalty in Massachusetts. "The state should not be in the business of taking lives," he said.
The only person to serve as chief justice of both the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court, he also became, upon his retirement in 1976, the first Chief Justice in the Supreme Judicial Court's long history to retire at age 70 in accordance with the 98th Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted in 1972.
A resident of Swampscott, he died at Salem Hospital. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen M. (née Petrossi); a son, Judge Joseph Louis Tauro; two brothers, Arthur L. and Raymond; and a sister, Celia Tricca. He is predeceased by his brother Dr. Antonio Tauro and his sister Carol A. Gioacchini.
References
[edit]- "G. Joseph Tauro, was chief justice of SJC and Superior Court; at 88"; The Boston Globe, October 7, 1994, via HighBeam Research.
- 1906 births
- 1994 deaths
- Boston University School of Law alumni
- Chief justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- Massachusetts Superior Court justices
- People from Lynn, Massachusetts
- People from Swampscott, Massachusetts
- 20th-century American judges
- Catholics from Massachusetts
- American people of Italian descent
- Massachusetts state court judge stubs