Joseph Richard Nolan[1] (June 14, 1925 – April 23, 2013)[2] was an American jurist.

[3][4][5] He was the younger of two sons whose father was a school custodian and whose mother cleaned houses.

[3][5][4] He served in the United States Navy during World War II reaching the rank of Pharmacist's Mate Third Class.

[3][5][4] He started his legal career in private practice and later became an assistant district attorney for Suffolk County.

[2] He died on April 23, 2013, in St. Elizabeth‟s Medical Center in Brighton from complications of a broken hip he suffered a couple days prior.