“He became active in the Republican Party’s Brooklyn organization early in his career as a lawyer, establishing himself as an outspoken expert on election law and procedure” (New York Times).
Justice A. David Benjamin was born in Brooklyn on July 2, 1899. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1916 and went on to earn his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1919. He was admitted to the Bar on July 9, 1920. Benjamin worked as an office assistant at Bushwick Produce Exchange, an assistant to the managing clerk at the law firm of Almy, Van Gurden, Evans, and Kelly and the law firm of Philip Shapiro, and as managing clerk at the law firm of Joseph L. Young.
In 1946, Benjamin was appointed a City Court Judge in Brooklyn by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey. He was elected to State Supreme Court in 1955. In 1965 he was designated to the Appellate Division, Second Department by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. Following his retirement from the bench in 1975, he served as counsel for the law firm of Demov, Morris, Levin & Shein in New York City.
Benjamin had a daughter, Ruth, and three grandchildren. He died of a heart attack on January 31, 1979 while vacationing in North Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sources
“A. David Benjamin.” Biographical information sheets. Appellate Division, Second Department Library, Brooklyn.
“A. David Benjamin, Lawyer in New York and Ex-State Justice.” New York Times (1923- Current file): B7. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Feb 01 1980. Web. 24 Aug. 2011 http://search.proquest.com/docview/121153239?accountid=8012.