David Leventritt (January 31, 1845 – January 9, 1926) was a Jewish-American lawyer and judge from New York.
Life
Leventritt was born on January 31, 1845, in
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Winnsboro is a town in Fairfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,550 at the 2010 census. The population was 3,215 at the 2020 census. A population decrease of approximately 9.5% for the same 10 year period. It is the c ...
, the son of George M. Leventritt and Betty Goldberg. His parents were German immigrants, with his father immigrating to America in 1834.
Leventritt moved with his parents to
New York City, New York
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, in 1854. He attended public schools there. He graduated from the Free Academy (later known as the
College of the City of New York) in 1864 with the second honors of the class and an
A.B.
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
degree. He then studied law, graduating from the
New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in New ...
with an
LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...
in 1870. He was president of a commission appointed to investigate the
Third Avenue Bridge over the
Harlem River
The Harlem River is an tidal strait in New York, United States, flowing between the Hudson River and the East River and separating the island of Manhattan from the Bronx on the New York mainland.
The northern stretch, also called the Spuyte ...
and counsel for the
Theatrical Syndicate
Starting in 1896, the Theatrical Syndicate was an organisation that in the United States that controlled the majority of bookings in the country's leading theatrical attractions. The six-man group was in charge of theatres and bookings.
Beginnin ...
. He was involved in a number of notable court cases, including one for New York City in reference to the condemnation of lands for park purposes between
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street (Manhattan), 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th Street (Manhattan), ...
and
Washington Bridge
The Washington Bridge is a -long arch bridge over the Harlem River in New York City between the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. The crossing, opened in 1888, connects 181st Street (Manhattan), 181st Street and Tenth Avenue (Manhattan), Am ...
; the property owners claimed 1.5 million dollars in damages, but through his efforts they were awarded less than half that amount. The land became Washington Park. He was also involved in the settlement of the will of railroad builder
Henry B. Plant
Henry Bradley Plant (October 27, 1819 – June 23, 1899), was a businessman, entrepreneur, and investor involved with many transportation interests and projects, mostly railroads, in the southeastern United States. He was founder of the Plant Sy ...
.
Leventritt was a
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
and a follower of
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York City political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society. It became the main loc ...
. In 1898, he was a Democratic candidate for the
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the New York State Unified Court System. (Its Appellate Division is also the highest intermediate appellate court.) It is vested with unlimited civ ...
. The campaign was somewhat embittered, although he won the election and ran ahead of his ticket. He joined the Court in 1899 and was immediately designated as a justice of the Appellate Term, a distinction no judge received on their first year of service until then. During the 1898 election, the
New York City Bar Association
The New York City Bar Association (City Bar), founded in 1870, is a voluntary association of lawyers and law students. Since 1896, the organization, formally known as the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, has been headquartered in a ...
condemned his candidacy. Due to the efforts of Secretary of War (and former Association president)
Elihu Root
Elihu Root (; February 15, 1845February 7, 1937) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and statesman who served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War in the early twentieth century. He also served as United States Senator from N ...
, the Association unanimously adopted a resolution to remove the censure in 1906.
Leventritt resigned as Justice of the Supreme Court in 1908 and became head of the new law firm Leventritt, Cook & Nathan. He formed the law firm with Alfred A. Cook, Harold Nathan, his nephew Edgar M. Leventritt, and Emil Goldmark. 500 lawyers and judges from the
New York County Lawyers' Association
The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) is a bar association located in New York City.
The New York County Lawyers Association was founded in 1908 because the existing bar association excluded some lawyers from membership due to their ra ...
held a dinner at the
Hotel Astor
Hotel Astor was a hotel on Times Square in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Built in 1905 and expanded in 1909–1910 for the Astor family, the hotel occupied a site bounded by Broadway, Shubert Alley, and 44th and 45th Stre ...
later that year in honor of his judicial service, with ex-Justice
William J. Wallace presiding, ex-Justice
Morgan J. O'Brien serving as toastmaster, and speeches from Justice
Almet F. Jenks, Justice
John Proctor Clarke John Proctor Clarke (April 23, 1856 – January 12, 1932) was a Presiding Justice, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, an intermediate appellate court in New York State, and an attorney. Clarke was Presiding Justice for a ...
,
Linn Bruce, and Governor
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes Sr. (April 11, 1862 – August 27, 1948) was an American statesman, politician and jurist who served as the 11th Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the ...
. In 1910, the
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
The Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court of the State of New York are the intermediate appellate courts in New York State.
There are four Appellate Divisions, one in each of the state's four Judicial Departments (e.g., the full title of the ...
appointed him chairman of the committee on character and fitness of candidates for admission to the bar. He held that position for twelve years, during which time he passed on the qualifications of 5,840 candidates.
He continued participating in important trials and arguments until he became somewhat enfeebled by old age.
Leventritt was associated with a number of Jewish charitable institutions in New York City. He was vice-president and president of the Aguilar Free Library, a trustee and vice-president of
Congregation Emanu-El of New York
Congregation Emanu-El of New York is the first Reform Judaism, Reform Jewish congregation in New York City and, because of its size and prominence, has served as a flagship congregation in the Reform branch of Judaism since its founding in 1845 ...
, and a director of the Judaeans. Interested in Jewish education, he helped establish several Hebrew schools. He was a member of the
American Legion of Honor,
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International (, from he, בְּנֵי בְּרִית, translit=b'né brit, lit=Children of the Covenant) is a Jewish service organization. B'nai B'rith states that it is committed to the security and continuity of the Jewish peopl ...
, the
Montefiore Home for Chronic Invalids,
Mount Sinai Hospital, the
Hebrew Orphan Asylum, the
American International Law Society, the
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
, and the
Educational Alliance
Educational Alliance is a leading social institution that has been serving communities in New York City’s Lower Manhattan since 1889. It provides multi-generational programs and services in education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and c ...
. In 1868, he married Matilda Lithauer. Their children were Olivia, Walter R., and Leo L.
Leventritt died in his apartment at the
St. Regis New York
The St. Regis New York is a historic luxury hotel at 2 East 55th Street, at the southeast corner with Fifth Avenue, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The hotel was originally developed by John Jacob Astor IV and was comp ...
on January 9, 1926. His funeral at
Temple Emanu-El was conducted by Rabbi Nathan Krass, Rabbi
Joseph Silverman
Joseph Silverman (August 25, 1860 in Ohio – July 26, 1930 in New York City), was a leading American Reform rabbi and author. He was the first American born rabbi to serve in New York City.
Born in Cincinnati, he attended the University of ...
, and Rabbi
Hyman G. Enelow. The honorary pallbearers included
John G. Agar,
Benjamin N. Cardozo
Benjamin Nathan Cardozo (May 24, 1870 – July 9, 1938) was an American lawyer and jurist who served on the New York Court of Appeals from 1914 to 1932 and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1932 until his dea ...
,
John Proctor Clarke John Proctor Clarke (April 23, 1856 – January 12, 1932) was a Presiding Justice, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, an intermediate appellate court in New York State, and an attorney. Clarke was Presiding Justice for a ...
, Lewis L. Delafield,
Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman (August 22, 1851 – December 26, 1940) was an American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.
Biography
Frohman was born to a American Jews, Jewish family in Sandusky, Ohio. His parents were Henry (1826&nda ...
, Murry Guggenheim,
William D. Guthrie, Lee Kohns,
Louis Marshall
Louis Marshall (December 14, 1856 – September 11, 1929) was an American corporate, constitutional and civil rights lawyer as well as a mediator and Jewish community leader who worked to secure religious, political, and cultural freedom for a ...
, Harold Nathan,
Adolph S. Ochs,
Samuel H. Ordway, Wilson M. Powell, Elihu Root Jr., Charles Strauss, Henry M. Toch, and Henry J. Bernheim. A number of prominent people in the legal profession and public life were also at the funeral, including
Abram I. Elkus, former Judge
M. Warley Platzek, Judge William P. Burr, Judge John V. Mcavoy, Judge
Francis W. Martin
Francis W. Martin (October 3, 1878 – June 1, 1947) was the first ever district attorney in Bronx County, New York and a judge on the New York Supreme Court from 1921 until his death.
Personal life and early career
Martin was born on Octob ...
, Alfred A. Cook, Edgar M. Souza, Mortimer Brenner, Charles A. Riegelman, former Senator
Simon Guggenheim
John Simon Guggenheim (December 30, 1867 – November 2, 1941) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist.
Life
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of Jewish descent, Simon Guggenheim was the son of Meyer Guggenheim and Barbara ...
, and
Mitchell L. Erlanger
Mitchell Louis Erlanger (February 15, 1857 – August 30, 1940) was a Jewish-American lawyer and judge from New York.
Life
Erlanger was born on February 15, 1857, in Buffalo, New York, the son of Leopold Erlanger and Rachel Lobenthal.
Erlanger ...
. Some Magistrates adjourned court in order to attend the funeral. He was buried in
Salem Fields Cemetery
Salem Fields Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located at 775 Jamaica Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, United States, within the Cemetery Belt. It was founded in 1852 by Temple Emanu-el.
Salem Fields is the final ...
.
References
External links
The Political Graveyard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leventritt, David
1845 births
1926 deaths
American people of German-Jewish descent
People from Winnsboro, South Carolina
City College of New York alumni
New York University School of Law alumni
19th-century American lawyers
20th-century American lawyers
Lawyers from New York City
19th-century American Jews
20th-century American Jews
American Reform Jews
Jewish American attorneys
New York (state) Democrats
19th-century American judges
20th-century American judges
New York Supreme Court Justices
Burials at Salem Fields Cemetery