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551:
669:
1416:
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1380:
1404:
1368:
529:
Wounded by at least three of the shots, which caused major bleeding, Daronco attempted to escape into his house. Meanwhile, his wife, daughter, and a friend were in another part of the house. Hearing the gunshots, his wife entered the kitchen and found Koster chasing
Daronco into the house. Koster
493:
Daronco discussed security measures with the courthouse staff during the course of the trial, as he expected an adverse reaction from
Carolee Koster. However, he did not believe in extensive precautionary security, and was described by his colleagues as "a trusting soul." He rarely had the
473:
During the trial, Carolee Koster's father, Charles L. Koster, was asked to leave the courtroom several times for making disruptive noises and expressions. From 1971 to 1981, Charles Koster was a security guard employed by Chase
Manhattan Bank. In 1969, he had retired from the
498:, where he had lived for most of his life. Despite warnings from his staff, Daronco kept his home address listed in the telephone book, stating that "if they really want you, they'll find you." He also would ride public transportation from Pelham to the courthouse in
502:. On May 19, 1988, Daronco issued a 39-page decision at the conclusion of the 10-day trial. He ruled in the defendant's favor and dismissed the case. In his decision, he found that there was not a "scintilla of credible evidence" to support Koster's claims.
363:
in 1979, on which he served until 1987. He became Deputy Chief
Administrative Judge of courts outside New York City in 1983, administering the 450 courts outside the city and managing their budget of $ 185 million (equivalent to $ 500 million in 2023).
588:
In
Daronco's memory, the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains, where he had worked for many years as a state court judge, was renamed the Richard J. Daronco Westchester County Courthouse. The municipal building adjacent to the Pelham
1486:
530:
pushed past her as she tried to hold the kitchen door closed. Daronco tried to barricade himself in his study, where he collapsed and died. Once inside the house, Koster killed himself with a fatal shot to the head.
537:
determined that Koster and his family had been "consumed with litigation," which had become a "crusade" for them. Charles Koster had spent most of his life savings to continue his daughter's lawsuit, and his
585:, who said that he intended to instead approve another bill that would provide benefits for surviving spouses of all assassinated federal judges. The alternative bill was signed into law the following month.
463:
with a vice president of the bank. She sought $ 2.5 million (equivalent to $ 6.44 million in 2023), and had rejected two settlement offers of several hundred thousand dollars. Koster represented herself
1126:
1215:
1541:
569:
Because
Daronco was on the federal bench for less than 18 months, his widow was ineligible to receive survivor's benefits under the Judicial Survivors' Annuity System. As a result, the
1337:
381:
258:
36:
276:
lawsuit against her former employer had been dismissed by
Daronco for lack of evidence. The Westchester County Courthouse and the Pelham Town House were both renamed in his honor.
1006:
327:, until 1958. Upon the end of his military service, Daronco entered private legal practice as a trial lawyer in New York City. The following year, he moved his practice to
522:. He walked to Daronco's house, where he found Daronco tending to the garden in his front yard. Moments later, Koster fired four shots at Daronco from a .38 caliber
1207:
607:
559:
265:
518:, to Pelham. He stayed the night at an unknown location. The following afternoon, Koster drove to Daronco's house, parking his car several blocks away at
951:
765:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a
Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda
562:
in the 20th century. His funeral was held at St. Catherine's Roman
Catholic Church in Pelham. Daronco's seat on the federal district court was filled by
729:
1260:
612:
1501:
519:
466:
834:
577:
to compensate
Daronco's widowed wife with the amount she would have received under the system, 25% of her husband's salary. However, the bill was
702:
1496:
1471:
1095:
1179:
901:
1531:
1506:
479:
1156:
800:
1461:
1298:
1446:
1511:
602:
1516:
658:
785:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States
319:
Daronco married Joan O'Rourke in 1957, and they had five children together. After graduating from law school, he served in the
1063:
1526:
1466:
1451:
1289:"Last Judgment: How an office romance between a cop's daughter and a suburban husband led to the murder of a federal judge"
1491:
1476:
1536:
968:
1456:
1254:
1040:
1521:
1481:
408:
534:
475:
494:
courtroom's security camera and intercom system turned on, and even mentioned during the trial that he lived in
487:
947:
483:
404:
792:
772:
356:
352:. He remained a county judge until 1979, and served for a year as an administrative judge of the county.
1358:
289:
1085:
392:
on May 7, 1987, and received his commission the same day. He was officially sworn in by Chief Judge
284:
Richard Joseph Daronco was born on August 1, 1931, in New York City. His father was a tiler who had
893:
324:
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663:
412:
1148:
783:
763:
570:
437:
328:
250:
1242:
423:
1328:
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1119:"Memorandum of Disapproval for the Private Relief Bill Providing Benefits to Joan R. Daronco"
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238:
71:
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495:
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305:
285:
269:
205:
196:
136:
119:
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Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
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1430:
377:
254:
222:
147:
115:
59:
1310:
1272:
1090:
574:
539:
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In April 1988, Daronco became the third judge to preside over a years-long
301:
221:(August 1, 1931 – May 21, 1988) was an American lawyer and judge. Born in
1348:
578:
563:
511:
83:
730:"Joan O'Rourke Married; Bride of Richard Daronco, Alumnus of Albany Law"
1384:
360:
246:
542:
indicated the killing was vengeance for Daronco's ruling in the case.
590:
499:
1379:
455:
on the grounds that she had allegedly been denied promotion and was
396:
on June 8, 1987, and served until his assassination one year later.
264:
Daronco was on the federal bench for just over a year before he was
653:
523:
1338:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
1208:"Wall Street Journal Article Puts Focus On Pelham's Bucolic Charm"
382:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
259:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
37:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
440:
151:
1033:
Murdered Judges: Of the 20th Century and Other Mysterious Deaths
798:
460:
1542:
United States district court judges appointed by Ronald Reagan
1180:"Crime History: Former NYPD officer kills judge over lawsuit"
272:, by the father of a disgruntled plaintiff whose protracted
470:
after her third and final attorney withdrew from the case.
554:
The memorial plaque for Daronco at the Pelham Town House
1249:. Livingston, Texas: Pale Horse Pub. pp. 213–219.
1110:
443:
brought by Carolee Koster against her former employer,
1356:
608:
List of United States federal judges killed in office
593:
was also renamed the Richard J. Daronco Town House.
399:
In addition to his judicial offices, Daronco was an
1086:"H.R.3134 – For the relief of Mrs. Joan R. Daronco"
833:
701:
241:in 1971. Three years later, he was elected to the
894:"FBI Says Few Loose Ends Remain in Shooting Case"
835:"Slain Judge Ruled Against His Killer's Daughter"
613:List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan
1428:
1171:
703:"Federal Judge Slain by a Gunman in Westchester"
427:Richard J. Daronco Westchester County Courthouse
695:
693:
691:
689:
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685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
510:On May 20, 1988, Charles Koster drove from his
1243:"Chapter Thirty-Six: Judge Richard J. Daronco"
1149:"H.R.5316 – Judicial Improvements Act of 1990"
1007:"Judge's Slayer 'Consumed' By Daughter's Case"
998:
753:
751:
380:on February 2, 1987, to become a judge of the
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
637:
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482:officer. Before that, he was enlisted in the
245:. In 1979, Daronco was appointed by Governor
1199:
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960:
674:
344:In 1971, Daronco was elected a judge of the
1141:
859:
857:
748:
348:. Three years later, he was elected to the
339:
279:
237:. Daronco was first elected a judge of the
935:
925:
923:
921:
919:
667:
630:
1286:
957:
603:List of assassinated American politicians
1117:Bush, George H. W. (November 16, 1990).
986:
854:
831:
778:
758:
699:
659:Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
549:
422:
233:before serving for several years in the
966:
954:from the original on July 16, 2017.
916:
866:"7-Year-old Case Led to Judge's Murder"
827:
825:
823:
821:
819:
817:
801:"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"
355:Daronco was appointed a justice of the
1429:
1177:
1159:from the original on December 18, 2019
1078:
1066:from the original on February 17, 2020
891:
1497:Military personnel from New York City
1472:Deaths by firearm in New York (state)
1240:
1049:
1030:
1004:
992:
969:"Judge's Killing Prompts a Challenge"
929:
863:
799:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
560:federal judges to be killed in office
376:, Daronco was nominated by President
253:. He was then appointed by President
1287:Kasindorf, Jeanie (August 1, 1988).
1205:
1116:
1098:from the original on August 12, 2017
832:McFadden, Robert D. (May 23, 1988).
814:
700:McFadden, Robert D. (May 22, 1988).
367:
1532:People murdered in New York (state)
1507:New York (state) state court judges
1502:Murder–suicides in New York (state)
1247:Murdered Judges of the 20th Century
1129:from the original on March 10, 2020
372:Upon the recommendation of Senator
49:May 7, 1987 – May 21, 1988
13:
1462:American people of Italian descent
1301:from the original on March 7, 2020
1280:
1263:from the original on March 7, 2020
1218:from the original on March 7, 2020
904:from the original on March 7, 2020
431:
334:
14:
1553:
1447:1988 murders in the United States
411:from 1983 to 1988, as well as at
1512:New York Military Academy alumni
1414:
1402:
1390:
1378:
1366:
1206:Refi, Carol (January 19, 2016).
892:Berton, Valerie (May 24, 1988).
558:Daronco was the second of three
409:Fordham University School of Law
1517:New York Supreme Court Justices
1123:The American Presidency Project
1024:
967:McKenna, Kate (July 22, 1990).
864:Doyle, John M. (May 23, 1988).
535:Federal Bureau of Investigation
476:New York City Police Department
346:Westchester County Family Court
239:Westchester County Family Court
170:
1178:McCabe, Scott (May 20, 2012).
950: (S.D.N.Y. 1988),
943:Koster v. Chase Manhattan Bank
885:
722:
384:, filling the seat vacated by
1:
1005:Raper, Sarah (May 23, 1988).
618:
484:United States Army Air Forces
405:Pace University School of Law
1527:People from Pelham, New York
1467:Assassinated American judges
1452:20th-century American judges
793:American Antiquarian Society
773:American Antiquarian Society
623:
357:New York State Supreme Court
251:New York State Supreme Court
7:
596:
505:
10:
1558:
1492:Lawyers from New York City
1477:Fordham University faculty
1234:
388:. He was confirmed by the
308:in 1953. He then attended
16:American judge (1931–1988)
1537:Providence College alumni
1345:
1333:
1325:
1320:
545:
290:New York Military Academy
212:
188:
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144:Manner of death
143:
126:
98:
93:
89:
77:
65:
53:
42:
34:
30:
23:
1457:Albany Law School alumni
1241:Baker, Susan P. (2003).
1031:Baker, Susan P. (2011).
948:687 F. Supp. 848
478:after twenty years as a
418:
350:Westchester County Court
340:New York State judiciary
280:Early life and education
243:Westchester County Court
1522:Pace University faculty
1482:Iona University faculty
1185:The Washington Examiner
1060:Federal Judicial Center
664:Federal Judicial Center
662:, a publication of the
520:Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
288:. Daronco attended the
571:United States Congress
555:
428:
329:White Plains, New York
304:, where he received a
219:Richard Joseph Daronco
103:Richard Joseph Daronco
1329:Lee Parsons Gagliardi
1094:. November 17, 1990.
553:
457:wrongfully terminated
426:
386:Lee Parsons Gagliardi
72:Lee Parsons Gagliardi
445:Chase Manhattan Bank
390:United States Senate
286:emigrated from Italy
249:as a justice of the
1011:The Washington Post
459:after she ended an
1297:. pp. 24–33.
1212:Pelham Daily Voice
973:The New York Times
840:The New York Times
734:The New York Times
708:The New York Times
654:Richard J. Daronco
556:
516:Bath, Pennsylvania
449:sex discrimination
429:
394:Charles L. Brieant
321:United States Army
298:Providence College
294:Cornwall, New York
235:United States Army
227:Providence College
193:Providence College
1355:
1354:
1346:Succeeded by
1057:"Freeh, Louis J."
736:. October 6, 1957
583:George H. W. Bush
453:sexual harassment
401:adjunct professor
368:Federal judiciary
310:Albany Law School
274:sexual harassment
231:Albany Law School
216:
215:
202:Albany Law School
1549:
1419:
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1409:New York (state)
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496:Pelham, New York
314:Bachelor of Laws
312:, receiving his
306:Bachelor of Arts
270:Pelham, New York
225:, he studied at
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137:Pelham, New York
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94:Personal details
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1281:Further reading
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1035:. Susan Baker.
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432:Preceding trial
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374:Alfonse D'Amato
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335:Judicial career
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268:at his home in
257:in 1987 to the
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173: 1957)
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1336:Judge of the
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163:Joan O'Rourke
160:
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148:Assassination
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116:New York City
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60:Ronald Reagan
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35:Judge of the
33:
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1311:Google Books
1309:– via
1303:. Retrieved
1292:
1273:Google Books
1271:– via
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1246:
1220:. Retrieved
1211:
1201:
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1183:
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1161:. Retrieved
1153:Congress.gov
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1091:Congress.gov
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806:February 29,
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710:. p. 33
707:
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575:private bill
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540:suicide note
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512:trailer home
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413:Iona College
398:
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359:by Governor
354:
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318:
302:Rhode Island
283:
266:assassinated
263:
218:
217:
132:(1988-05-21)
130:May 21, 1988
79:Succeeded by
55:Appointed by
44:
18:
1442:1988 deaths
1437:1931 births
1349:Louis Freeh
777:1700–1799:
757:1634–1699:
564:Louis Freeh
447:, alleging
84:Louis Freeh
67:Preceded by
1431:Categories
1343:1987–1988
1191:August 11,
1102:August 11,
1016:August 12,
993:Baker 2003
978:August 11,
930:Baker 2003
877:August 11,
846:August 11,
714:August 11,
619:References
361:Hugh Carey
247:Hugh Carey
109:1931-08-01
1373:Biography
1163:March 10,
624:Citations
591:town hall
573:passed a
500:Manhattan
316:in 1956.
189:Education
45:In office
1305:March 7,
1299:Archived
1294:New York
1267:March 7,
1261:Archived
1222:March 7,
1216:Archived
1157:Archived
1155:. 1990.
1133:March 7,
1127:Archived
1096:Archived
1070:March 7,
1064:Archived
952:archived
902:Archived
782:(1992).
762:(1997).
740:July 16,
597:See also
524:revolver
506:Shooting
486:and the
181:Children
152:gunshots
120:New York
1359:Portals
1235:Sources
656:at the
441:lawsuit
325:private
175:
167:
1253:
1039:
946:,
908:May 4,
546:Legacy
467:pro se
461:affair
296:, and
158:Spouse
139:, U.S.
122:, U.S.
789:(PDF)
769:(PDF)
438:civil
419:Death
323:as a
169:(
165:
1307:2020
1269:2020
1251:ISBN
1224:2020
1193:2017
1165:2020
1135:2020
1104:2017
1072:2020
1037:ISBN
1018:2017
980:2017
910:2022
879:2017
848:2017
808:2024
742:2022
716:2017
533:The
451:and
407:and
229:and
127:Died
99:Born
1385:Law
514:in
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300:in
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