LEONARD GARTH

GARTH--Hon. Leonard I.

One of the longest serving and most highly respected federal judges in the country, Judge Leonard I. Garth, died on September 21, 2016, at age 95, after serving 48 years on the federal bench. Garth first served on the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, for four years beginning in 1970 and the last 44 years on the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Garth remained intellectually engaged and carried on judicial duties until a few weeks before his death. He is survived by his daughter, Tobie Garth Meisel, son-in-law, Michael S. Meisel, three grandchildren, Dr. John Garth Meisel, Dr. Amanda Levitt and Ms. Betsy Amitin and seven great- grandchildren. His beloved wife of 72 years, Sarah Kaufman Garth passed last year. A graduate of Columbia University, Garth was selected as a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar, and fought as a first lieutenant in Africa during World War II. Later he attended Harvard Law School. After graduating, he practiced law at Cole, Berman & Garth (now Cole Schotz), a prominent New Jersey-based firm, where he developed his reputation as a leading trial and transactional lawyer, before being appointed to the federal bench. As a District Judge, Garth handled many high profile cases, such as the Three-Mile Island disaster, congressional re- districting, organized crime, political corruption, and immigration. His reported appellate opinions fill volumes and have contributed greatly to the jurisprudence of the Third Circuit and nationally. Recently, the Atrium of the U.S. Courthouse in Newark was named after him. Judge Garth's clarity of thinking, work ethic, and devotion to the Third Circuit is legendary. He has mentored more than a hundred law clerks who have achieved success in the judiciary, government, academia, and private practice. Those law clerks include his former Third Circuit colleague, and now Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Justice Alito described Garth as a "tremendous mentor and teacher." Senior Judge Maryanne Trump Barry served with Judge Garth on the Third Circuit for twenty years and regarded him as a "masterful jurist" with whom she enjoyed a close friendship. Donations in his memory may be made to: Temple Beth Tikvah, 196 Durham Road, Madison CT 06433, the American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Foundation.