Richard J. Daronco

Born in New York City, he studied at Providence College and Albany Law School before serving for several years in the United States Army.

In 1979, Daronco was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey as a justice of the New York State Supreme Court.

[1] Upon the end of his military service, Daronco entered private legal practice as a trial lawyer in New York City.

[2] Daronco was appointed a justice of the New York State Supreme Court by Governor Hugh Carey in 1979,[2] on which he served until 1987.

[1] He was officially sworn in by Chief Judge Charles L. Brieant on June 8, 1987, and served until his assassination one year later.

[2] In April 1988, Daronco became the third judge to preside over a years-long civil lawsuit brought by Carolee Koster against her former employer, Chase Manhattan Bank, alleging sex discrimination and sexual harassment on the grounds that she had allegedly been denied promotion and was wrongfully terminated after she ended an affair with a vice president of the bank.

[7] Daronco discussed security measures with the courthouse staff during the course of the trial, as he expected an adverse reaction from Carolee Koster.

[5] Despite warnings from his staff, Daronco kept his home address listed in the telephone book, stating that "if they really want you, they'll find you."

[8] The following afternoon, Koster drove to Daronco's house, parking his car several blocks away at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Hearing the gunshots, his wife entered the kitchen and found Koster chasing Daronco into the house.

[5] Charles Koster had spent most of his life savings to continue his daughter's lawsuit, and his suicide note indicated the killing was vengeance for Daronco's ruling in the case.

As a result, the United States Congress passed a private bill to compensate Daronco's widowed wife with the amount she would have received under the system, 25% of her husband's salary.