Justice Marcus G. Christ was born on April 7, 1900, the son of Philip J. Christ, a Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead and a chairman of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. Marcus G. Christ distinguished himself in the field of municipal law when he served as trial counsel in a municipal case preventing the sinking of water-supply wells in Nassau and Suffolk Counties by New York City.
He was appointed to Nassau County Court in 1950 and was elected a State Supreme Court Justice in 1953. In 1959, he was designated to the Appellate Division, Second Department. He held the position of Presiding Justice of this Court in 1970. In 1972, Judge Christ wrote the majority opinion in a case regarding the state’s abortion law. The ruling overturned the State Supreme Court’s decision and held that an unborn child before the 24th week of gestation did not constitute a person entitled to Fifth and 14th Amendment protection. Christ retired in 1976 after a total of 26 years on the bench.
He was married to Marion C. Hallsted and had three sons, Marcus Jr., Philip and Donald, and one daughter, Charlotte. He died on March 4, 1988 in New Hyde Park, L.I. at the age of 87.
Sources
“Marcus Christ, 87, Ex-Presiding Justice of New York Court.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 33. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Mar 05 1988. Web. 9 Sep. 2011 http://search.proquest.com/docview/110587186?accountid=8012.
“State Abortion Law Upheld on Appeal.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 1. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007). Feb 26 1972. Web. 30 Sep. 2011 http://search.proquest.com/docview/119419486?accountid=8012.