[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUSTICE FRANK A. SEDITA, JR.

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 2013

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the remarkable life 
and legacy of retired New York State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. 
Sedita, Jr., who passed away on June 16, 2013, at the age of 78.
   Judge Sedita was a key member of a long-respected local political 
family in my hometown of Buffalo, New York. He was the son of the late 
three-term Buffalo Mayor Frank A. Sedita and was the father of Erie 
County's current District Attorney, Frank A. Sedita III.
   He started off as an impressive student, graduating summa cum laude 
from Canisius College, and subsequently earned his law degree from the 
University at Buffalo, gaining admission to the bar in 1961.
   Judge Sedita's dedication and work ethic led to great professional 
success, as he started in private practice, working in trial and family 
law until 1968, when he achieved a 99 on a civil service test and was 
named an assistant city corporation counsel. From 1970-76, he served as 
senior deputy corporation counsel.
   While in the midst of a stint as an Erie County Family Court judge, 
Mr. Sedita ran unopposed for the position of Buffalo Chief City Court 
judge. Unafraid to tackle a tough job, Judge Sedita named himself a 
Housing Court judge in 1992, when no one else wanted to take the 
position, and received praise for his no-nonsense tack with slumlords, 
cracking down with a record number of fines and jailing many. He 
quickly became known as ``Maximum Frank.'' Following his service as the 
city's top jurist, he was elected to serve as a Justice of the New York 
State Supreme Court.
   On several occasions, the Western New York community recognized the 
great work of Judge Sedita as he was named the recipient of many awards 
for his successes in Housing Court, including the Buffalo News 
Outstanding Citizen award in 1992, the Buffalo Urban League Stewardship 
Award in 1993, and the West Side Business Association's Citizen of the 
Year Award, in 1994.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and with Members of the House to 
express our deepest condolences to the family of the late Judge Frank 
A. Sedita, Jr., and join with me in recognizing the many good works he 
performed during his long and full career and life.

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