Hon. Matthew J. Jasen ’39

Both Judge Jasen’s parents were born in Kalisz, 70 kilometers from Warsaw. His father, a tailor, and mother emigrated to Buffalo in 1904. They encouraged education for their children. Judge Jasen attended public East High School, then went to Canisius College for three years.

In 1936, Judge Jasen entered Buffalo law school, a brownstone at 77 W. Eagle St. At the time there were only two classrooms, a library and offices for professors. Most instructors were part time, such as Philip Halpern, an adjunct, who taught him torts, future interests and real property. Only Dean Carlos Alden and Professor Laidlaw were full-time professors.

Judge Jasen’s class—75 students to start, with eight women—was the first to benefit when a new group of faculty members, called the “Harvard People,” arrived and forever changed the culture of the Buffalo law school. Francis Shea became the new dean. Other additions to the full-time faculty included Mark DeWolfe Howe, Louis Jaffe and Ernest Brown. “They taught us how to think like lawyers—not just learn black letter law,” the judge said. Though his mother preferred that he become a priest, she was satisfied when he promised to be an honest lawyer. About 45 graduated in the Class of 1939.

Judge Jasen had to clerk for a year because he did not have a college degree. He clerked with Louis Pawlowski, then joined Block and Cohen before he started his own practice. Living at home, he helped support his parents until he was drafted in 1941. He served in the Army as a lawyer and civil affairs officer in Germany during World War II, reaching the rank of captain.

Among his greatest professional achievements was being selected as one of nine civilian judges in occupied Germany in Heidelberg, in 1946. He was presiding judge of the Third Judicial District and, at 31 years old, had formidable power and responsibility. He said it instilled in him great confidence and maturity.

In 1948, he returned to the United States and went on a speaking tour in Western New York to drum up business. Between 1949 and 1957, he hired eight lawyers and created the firm of Jasen, Mans, Johnson and Begar, one of the largest plaintiffs’ law firms in Buffalo. Gov. Harriman appointed Judge Jasen to a vacancy on the State Supreme Court in 1957. He ran for the office in 1958 and was the first Democrat in half a century to be elected. In 1967, he ran for a position on the Court of Appeals and was elected.

After he retired in 1985, he was appointed several times by the U.S. Supreme Court as a special master overseeing major and complex court cases. He also worked with his sons—Mark of Amherst and Peter of Buffalo—at their downtown law firm.

Born Dec. 13, 1915—Died Feb. 4, 2006