Norman Goodman Explained

Norman Goodman
Office:County Clerk of New York County
Term Start:May 3, 1969
Term End:December 31, 2014
Successor:Milton Tingling
Appointer:Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court
Birth Date:30 December 1923
Birth Place:New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Party:Democratic[1]
Children:2
Alma Mater:New York University

Norman Goodman (December 30, 1923 – January 24, 2019) was an American municipal official. He served as the county clerk of New York County, coextensive with the borough of Manhattan, New York City, from 1969 to 2014.[2]

Career

Goodman was a lawyer for seventeen years. In 1965, he was appointed the county's deputy clerk. In 1969, he was appointed county clerk by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court.[3] As of March 2009, Goodman had held the position during seven different New York governors and, although not a city government official, during six different New York City mayors.[4] As commissioner of jurors, Goodman sent out more than 11 million jury summonses; with his signature and title appearing at the top of each summons, Goodman once quipped that he had "the most notorious signature in New York". He retired in December 2014, and was succeeded by Milton Tingling.[5]

Accolades

In December 2008, the jury assembly room at the New York County Courthouse, located at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan, was named after him.[4] A bronze plaque bearing his image was installed and inscribed with "his commitment to his work has been matched only by the kindness and consideration he has brought to his dealings with everyone he has encountered."[4]

Personal life and death

Goodman was born in New Haven, Connecticut and was educated at New York University. He married Ruth Weissman in 1948. They had two children and were married until her death in 2017.

Goodman lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He died at his home from complications of Parkinson's disease on January 24, 2019, at the age of 95.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fox . Margalit . Norman Goodman, 95, Dies; Summoned Manhattanites to Jury Duty, Like It or Not . January 25, 2019 . The New York Times . January 24, 2019.
  2. News: After 45 Years, Manhattan Clerk Is Issuing His Last Call for Jury Duty. Barron. James. December 10, 2014. The New York Times. 0362-4331. October 19, 2016.
  3. Hartocollis, Anemona (April 13, 2006). "Excuses from Jury Pool? He's Heard Them All". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  4. News: Clyde Haberman. Haberman. Clyde . March 2, 2009. Summoner of Juries for 40 Years. The New York Times. October 22, 2011.
  5. Web site: Norman Goodman, Shepherd of Change in 45 Years as Manhattan Court Clerk, Dies at 95. In addition to county clerk, Goodman also served as commissioner of jurors, and during his 45-year reign he sent out more than 11 million jury summonses. . Andrew . Denney . January 25, 2019. New York Law Journal. law.com . January 31, 2019.