Hon. Joseph P. McCarthy ’61

Judge McCarthy attended Canisius High School and Canisius College, then went to UB for accounting. It was always his intent to go to law school. He applied to UB primarily because of its location; all the students were local. In 1957-58, there were five women in the class. They were on the Eagle Street campus and there was a high attrition rate. With its Socratic teaching method, law school was a challenge compared to college: “They kept you on edge. Your hands shook when you got your grades.”

His law school study group included a future congressman, three future judges and the future president of the Erie County Bar Association. They remain good friends.

Judge McCarthy ran the cafeteria for students at 77 W. Eagle. Only 49 students graduated. He worked summers to pay for tuition. Women in the class were treated the same as men. He often watched trials at the courts and observed attorneys at work.

After he graduated and passed the bar exam, he worked for Bob Murphy for two years. Michael Dillon was elected district attorney and offered him a job. He joined the DA’s office in 1964 and remained for 13 years. He moved up the ranks quickly and was elected county court judge in 1978.

Judge McCarthy liked teaching and taught Trial Technique in the law school for 25 years. He also spent 15 years on a committee of 10, developing criminal jury instructions for New York State.