Emilio Nunez
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| Emilio Nunez | |
|---|---|
 Emilio_Nunez.jpg Emilio Nunez, First Hispanic Judge in the State of New York | |
| Born | Emilio Nunez June 29, 1904 Bilbao, Spain |
| 💀Died | July 6, 1995 (aged 91) Manhattan, New York, New YorkJuly 6, 1995 (aged 91) |
| 🏫 Education | New York Law School |
| 💼 Occupation | Lawyer, judge |
| 👔 Employer | Supreme Court of the State of New York |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Carmina Garcia Nunez (Undated.) |
| 👶 Children | Robert Nunez, Richard Nunez |
Justice Emilio Nunez broke new ground in the State of New York’s legal history as the first Hispanic judge in the state. Throughout his distinguished career, he became the first Hispanic person to hold each of the successive judicial positions to which he was appointed or elected. A founding member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, he left a lasting legacy that continues today through the annual Emilio Nunez Award for Judicial Excellence, presented to individuals who exemplify outstanding service on the bench.
Born on June 29, 1904, in Bilbao, Spain, Nunez immigrated to the United States at age 11, settling with his family in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His path toward the legal profession began early: as a teenager, he served as a court interpreter for fellow Spanish immigrants, sparking a lifelong interest in the law. He later moved to New York City and earned his law degree from New York Law School in 1927.
Nunez built a notable legal practice, serving as counsel to several South American governments and the Spanish government. His judicial career began in 1951 when New York City Mayor Vincent Impellitteri appointed him a city magistrate. The following year, he was promoted to the Court of Special Sessions, where he served until 1956. That year, Governor Averell Harriman appointed him to the City Court, and in November, Nunez was elected to a full ten-year term.
In 1957, he began serving as an acting New York State Supreme Court Justice and, in 1962, was elected to the court. His judicial ascent culminated in 1968 with his appointment to the Appellate Division, First Department, by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Justice Nunez remained on the appellate bench until his retirement in 1977.
Throughout his career, Justice Nunez presided over a wide array of cases, including significant labor disputes. Notably, he enforced the Taylor Law for the first time during the 1967 United Federation of Teachers strike, sentencing the union president to 15 days in jail and fining the union $150,000. In his ruling, he emphasized the principle of equal justice under the law, stating:
"Law means nothing unless it means the same law for all. This strike by a powerful union against the public was a rebellion against the government; if permitted to succeed it would eventually destroy government with resultant anarchy and chaos."
Justice Nunez was married to Carmina Garcia Nunez and was the father of three children. He passed away on July 6, 1995, at the age of 91,[1] leaving behind a powerful legacy of integrity, courage, and service to the law.
References
- ↑ Gelder, Lawrence Van (8 July 1995). "Emilio Nunez is Dead at 91; A Pioneering Hispanic Judge". The New York Times.
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