Bruce Bromley
Encyclopedia
Bruce Ditmas Bromley was an American lawyer and politician.
, but left to serve in the U. S. Navy during World War I
. He received his law degree from Harvard after the war, was admitted to the bar in 1920, and commenced practice in New York City
as assistant to Henry L. Stimson
. He later joined the law firm that is now known as Cravath, Swaine & Moore
, and stayed with it for more than 50 years. While at Cravath, he won big cases for IBM
, Westinghouse Electric, Bethlehem Steel
, General Motors
, Esquire Magazine, and other corporate giants.
On January 14, 1949, he was appointed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey to the New York Court of Appeals
, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas D. Thacher
. In November 1949
, he was defeated by Democrat Charles W. Froessel
when running for a full term.
In 1969, he appeared for the U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Powell v. McCormack
, in which Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
, questioned his exclusion from the House.
Bromley died at the New York Hospital
—Cornell Medical Center.
A law chair at Harvard Law School is named after him. Among Bruce Bromley Professors of Law were Arthur R. Miller
and Paul M. Bator
.
Life
He was the son of Peter Brewster Bromley (1861–1926) and Sarah Suydam (Ditmas) Bromley (1857–1936). He graduated from Michigan University in 1914, and then entered Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, but left to serve in the U. S. Navy during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He received his law degree from Harvard after the war, was admitted to the bar in 1920, and commenced practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as assistant to Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
. He later joined the law firm that is now known as Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is a prominent American law firm based in New York City, with an additional office in London. The second oldest firm in the country, Cravath was founded in 1819 and consistently ranks first among the world's most prestigious law firms according to a survey of partners,...
, and stayed with it for more than 50 years. While at Cravath, he won big cases for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Westinghouse Electric, Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
, General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Esquire Magazine, and other corporate giants.
On January 14, 1949, he was appointed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey to the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas D. Thacher
Thomas D. Thacher
Thomas Day Thacher was a lawyer and judge in New York City.Thacher was born in Tenafly, New Jersey and was the oldest of four children of Thomas Thacher, a prominent New York lawyer, and Sarah McCulloh Thacher...
. In November 1949
New York state election, 1949
The 1949 New York state election was held on November 8, 1949, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals and a U.S. Senator.-Background:...
, he was defeated by Democrat Charles W. Froessel
Charles William Froessel
Charles William Froessel was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
when running for a full term.
In 1969, he appeared for the U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Powell v. McCormack
Powell v. McCormack
Powell v. McCormack, was a United States Supreme Court case decided in 1969. It answered the question of whether Congress has the authority to exclude from being sworn in and enrolled upon its rolls a person who has been duly elected or appointed by the people or the executive authority of his/her...
, in which Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was an American politician and pastor who represented Harlem, New York City, in the United States House of Representatives . He was the first person of African-American descent elected to Congress from New York and became a powerful national politician...
, questioned his exclusion from the House.
Bromley died at the New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
—Cornell Medical Center.
A law chair at Harvard Law School is named after him. Among Bruce Bromley Professors of Law were Arthur R. Miller
Arthur R. Miller
Arthur Raphael Miller is a leading scholar in the field of American civil procedure and a University Professor at New York University. Before that he was the Bruce Bromley Professor of Law at Harvard Law School , after being on the faculties of the University of Michigan and the University of...
and Paul M. Bator
Paul M. Bator
Paul Michael Bator was an American legal academic, Supreme Court advocate and expert on United States federal courts...
.
See also
- Thomas D. BarrThomas D. BarrThomas Delbert Barr was a prominent lawyer at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 1953 and Yale Law School, and served as an officer in the Marine Corps...
, a Cravath lawyer who ran the IBM case for 13 years