[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FRANK A. SEDITA, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to have the House 
pause in its deliberations this morning to honor New York State Supreme 
Court Justice Frank A. Sedita, Jr., whose three decade judicial career 
will end this year. The Judge, best known to friends and family as 
``Chickie,'' is among the most lovable and well-respected legal figures 
in the Western New York community.
  A lifelong Buffalonian, Judge Sedita is the scion of one of the most 
famous and well-respected 20th century Buffalo political families. 
While the Judge's father was one of Buffalo's most well-liked 20th 
century political figures and someone looked back upon nostalgically as 
one of Buffalo's most favorite mayors; Judge Sedita's career as an 
attorney and a jurist has been tremendously substantial, as have been 
the Judge's contributions as a public servant to the hometown region he 
loves so much.
  Born and raised in Buffalo, Judge Sedita was graduated summa cum 
laude from the Canisius College of Buffalo, and in 1960 earned his J.D. 
at the University at Buffalo Law School. During extensive legal 
practice in the office of the City of Buffalo's Corporation Counsel, 
Judge Sedita developed substantial expertise in the area of education 
law, serving for many years as the counsel to the city's Board of 
Education.
  Judge Sedita's career on the bench began in the mid-1970s, upon his 
election as an Associate Judge of the Buffalo City Court. Following 
successful service as a Judge of the Erie County Family Court, he was 
elected as Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court, administering the 
city's court system within the very building named for his late father. 
During this period, Judge Sedita assumed responsibility for the city's 
Housing Court, raising that court's profile and restoring its work to 
its rightful level of prominence. His work in that court was probably 
among the most impactful judicial work performed in Western New York 
during that period, and resulted in Judge Sedita's selection as a 
Buffalo News ``Citizen of the Year.''
  For the better part of the past two decades, Judge Sedita has served 
with tremendous distinction as a Justice of the New York State Supreme 
Court, continuing to bring honor to not only his own career but also to 
his storied family name. Notwithstanding his retirement, all residents 
in Erie County are fortunate that the Sedita family's tradition of 
effective public service will continue--hopefully for many years to 
come. In 2012, the judge's son--Frank A. Sedita III, will complete his 
first term as Erie County's District Attorney. Frank Sedita III has 
proven a tenacious and effective prosecutor throughout his legal 
career, and he too, like his father the judge, continues to be a credit 
to his family, and to the community that he serves with such 
effectiveness.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask that the whole House join with those 
of us in Western New York who wish good luck and Godspeed to New York 
State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita, Jr., upon the occasion of 
his retirement from the bench.

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