Born in New York City, New York, Leisure received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1952 and attended Columbia Law School, but was in the United States Army Lieutenant, Artillery from 1953 to 1955.
He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York from 1962 to 1966.
[1] Leisure was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on May 25, 1984, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge Milton Pollack.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 15, 1984, and received commission the same day.
[1] Leisure died of complications of pneumonia on September 17, 2013, in Manhattan.