Reception for retiring judges set for Dec. 7

Daily Record (Rochester, NY), Dec 4, 2006 by Daily Record Staff

The Bar Association of Erie County will host a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo in honor of retiring Supreme Court Justice John P. Lane, Supervising Judge of the Civil Courts; Supreme Court Justice Joseph S. Forma, who retired earlier this year; and U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio.

The bar association will also honor the memory of Justice Vincent E. Doyle, Jr., who passed away in October.

Hon. John P. Lane

Judge Lane was born in Kenmore and received an LLB degree in business administration from the University at Buffalo, followed by a JD from its School of Law.

He was admitted to practice in New York State courts and the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, in 1953 and to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, in 1961. Judge Lane focused his legal career on litigation, land use, municipal law, and economic development and also served as an assistant district attorney in Erie County.

From 1993 until 1996, Judge Lane served as Amherst Town Attorney and in 1996, he was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims. He was then appointed to the state supreme court by Gov. George Pataki in 2000, where he continues to serve until his retirement at the end of the year. Judge Lane is also a former adjunct lecturer on land use law for the University at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning.

Hon. Joseph S. Forma

Judge Forma was born in Buffalo and admitted to practice in New York State Courts and the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, in 1965. He received his BA degree cum laude from the State University College of New York at Buffalo and his JD from the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Judge Forma was appointed to the state supreme court in 1986 by Gov. Mario Cuomo, and secured his seat in that year's election. He was re-elected to that office in 2000. Judge Forma was previously an Erie County Court judge (1982 to 1987) and was a Buffalo City Court judge from 1976 through 1982.

Hon. Leslie G. Foschio

Judge Leslie G. Foschio received his BA degree cum laude from the University at Buffalo and his LLB from UB School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1966, followed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Seventh and District of Columbia Circuits, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Tax Court.

He began his career in the University at Buffalo counsel's office and subsequently became an assistant district attorney in Erie County. In 1969, Judge Foschio joined the faculty at Notre Dame Law School, where he also served as assistant dean.

In 1975, he was appointed corporation counsel for the City of Buffalo, where he remained until he was named a partner in Cohen Swados et al. In 1981, Judge Foschio was appointed New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by Gov. Hugh Carey. Two years later, he became general counsel and vice president of Barrister Information Systems.

Judge Foschio was appointed a U.S. Magistrate for the Western District of New York in 1991.

Reception information: Tickets to the reception are available for $25 per person. Call Sharlene Hall at (716) 852-8687 for more information and reservations.