The Washington herald., 1908-03-30
IS OUT
Resigns from Bench of New
York Supreme Court.
GOES BACK TO LAW PRACTICE
BECOMES Head of Firm of Leventr;tt,
Cook a ADMINISTRATIONS RumOrs
Him-Bar Association Pays Honor
to Jurist Ii Once MaIiEned.

New York, March 9-AnnouncementI
was made this afternoon of the retire
ment Of Justice David Leventritt frcm
the bench Of the Supreme Court.
His resignation, mailed TO the secretary
of state on Saturday, takes effect May l.
Justice Leventrit; viii then become the
head Of a new law firm, Leventritt Cook
& Nathan.
Reports that Justice Leventritt was
about to retire have been current since
the latter part OF 1906 These rumors the
justice always denied
In March of last year. however. his
son. in speaking for his father as to one
OF the more persistent OF these rumors,
would only say his father had mo i'm
mediate intention" OF resigning 1t was
taken from this that his retirement was at
least matter Of contemplation.
Last week another report was brought
70 the Justices attention. He persisted
in denial
Duty TO His Family.
The reason assigned by Justice Leven-
tritt for his action is that il is a duty
he owes his family TO return TO the active
practice OF law
His reason. then. would seem to be that
given by former Justice Morgan J. O'BrIen
when the latter retired from the bench.
Justice Leventritt is sixty-three years old.
The announcement was made by Alfred
A. Cook. who will be one Of Judge Leven-
tritt's partners. The new firm win COM
prise also Harold Nathan. a former part
ner of Justice Leventritt: Edgar NJ
Leventritt, a nephew, and Emil Gold
mark.
Cook is the surviving member of the
firm OF wallach & Cook. OF 30 Wall
street The senior member Of this firm.
Leopold Wailach. died some months ago.
Nathan. Edgar Leventritt. and Goldmark
are now members OF the firm Of Nathan.
Leventritt & Perham. at q William
street
Consolidation OF Two Firms.
The new firm. which will be located in
the Trinity Building, az III Broadway.
viii be then. in effect. q consolidation Of
these two firms. with the addition Of
Judge Leventritt as senior member.
Justice Leventritt was born az Winns-
boro. s. c.. January 81. TS45. He came
10 New York in 1874. and was educated
in the public schools Of this city. He
took his law course at the New York
University, and was admitted 10 the bar
in ISL
He soon became known as a corpora
tion lawyer. In 1855 he was put forward
by Richard Croker as a candidate FOR the
Supreme Court bench, in place Of Justice
Joseph +. Daily.
Leventritt was the object Of bitter at
tack. not only by his opponents. but
also by the bar association. which scored
his fitness for judicial hOnors in no mine
Ing terms He was elected. however. and
Immediately showed his denouncers they
were in the wrong.
Bar ReVerses Opinion.
In March. 1896 the bar association. at
the instigation Of Secretary EIihu Root.
who had been prominent among those
who led the attack against Mr.. Leven-
tritt, passed resolutions reversing its
ante-election stand. The preamble to the
resolution included this statement:
During the seven years of his judicial
service his administration Of the Office
has given general satisfaction TO the peo-
pie and the bar, and has been marked BY
ability, learning. diligence, and a strong
sense Of Justice
Justice Leventritts term would not
have expired until December q. 1872. and
he would then have been eligible for re-
ala e.