James P. Harrington ’69

James Harrington's parents were immigrants from Ireland who met and married in Rochester, New York. Harrington got married during law school and has a son and a daughter. His son, who also went to UB law school, practices law with him. 

He was a political science major at LeMoyne College in Syracuse and decided to go to UB law after applying to schools nationwide. He didn't have a "burning desire" to be a lawyer, but the “strange times” of the 1960s—the Vietnam war, young people acting against authority, the Civil Rights movement—led to him law school. It seemed like a natural decision, and he appreciated the deferment to avoid Vietnam.

The law school was at 77 West Eagle St. He said his years there were "pretty crazy." His class was competent, but friends were "unique" in their lack of scholarship and interest in schoolwork. That made it a fun time. Harrington recalled his professors would ask, "Has anyone read this case?" Ironically, this class went on to become as successful as others. 

He was closest to Professor Ken Joyce. He won the Desmond Moot Court competition, which was different and smaller back then, and Joyce was the moderator. Thus, he and Ken talked often and got to know each other well. Harrington also liked James McGavern, an adjunct professor, who taught a seminar course he enjoyed.

Harrington started his career working for Neighborhood Legal Services doing poverty law, bringing article 78 proceedings to social service departments. He then took assigned cases. Soon after, his career in defense began to mushroom. He took naturally to criminal law once he started doing it.

Among his early memorable cases was the defense of two men from Northern Ireland, one of whom was the best friend of hunger striker Bobby Sands and gave his eulogy. They were invited to speak at a Northern Ireland aid society, applied for visas, were denied, but went anyway—and were caught. The case received tremendous publicity both here and in Ireland, and Harrington and his partner, Mark Mahoney, became friends with them. That was just the beginning.

Other nationally prominent issues and cases Harrington described included:

• NY State death penalty cases
• Lackawanna Six case
• Sept. 11 terror attacks

In a difficult case in federal court, he served pro bono to represent Ramzi bin al-Shibh, a Yemeni man accused of plotting and carrying out the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The defendant was being held at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.