Edward D. Re

Edward Domenic Re (October 14, 1920 – September 17, 2006) was a United States lawyer and judge. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, during both World War II and the Korean War, and, in 1968, served as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. He taught throughout his career and became a full-time faculty member at St. John's Law School after retiring from the bench. He was a prolific writer, a professional musician, and father of twelve children.

Biography

Edward D. Re was born in Santa Marina Salina, Italy on October 14, 1920, the son of Captain Antonio Re and Marina Maetta Re. He was awarded Derivative Citizenship under his father's naturalization and received his own Certificate of Citizenship on February 9, 1944. Re was a resident of the United States from 1928 till his death in 2006. He was educated in New York City. He graduated from P. S. 176 and New Utrecht High School, Brooklyn, New York; St. John's University School of Commerce, B. S. cum laude, 1941; St. John's School of Law, LL.B. summa cum laude, 1943; and New York University School of Law, J.S.D. summa cum laude, 1950. Re also received more than twenty honorary doctorates from Colleges and Universities throughout the United States, Europe and Africa.

Upon completion of his last year at St. Johns Law School and his passing the New York State Bar, Re was drafted and called to duty with the rank of private. Thereafter, he joined the United States Air Force, initially ranked Airman Basic (no Insignia). There, Re completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) and taught Military Law, Aircraft Recognition and languages (French, Italian and Spanish). Re served as a Sergeant during WWII, and remained on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1943 to 1947. He reenlisted as a reserve officer in 1947, serving as Legal Officer, on the AAF Special Board of Officers, and on the Defense Counsel in Special and General Courts-Martial. While teaching at the Army War College, Re was recalled for duty in the Korean War in 1951, establishing equitable procedures and administering a program to de-select reserve officers of marginal efficiency (First Air Force, Mitchel Air Force Base). On June 21, 1961 Re was awarded the United States Air Force Commendation Medal. Re's Military Reserve Status was Colonel in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department. Re retired at the rank of Colonel in 1969 after 26 years of service in the United States Air Force.

Chief Judge Edward D. Re Emeritus of the United States Court of International Trade was Knighted by the Government of Italy with the Order of Merit in 1960 and eventually received every rank including the highest rank of Grand Cross.

He was appointed to the faculty of St. John's University School of Law and taught there from 1947 until 1961. He taught Appellate Advocacy, International Law, and Remedies. In 1961, the Holy See named Re as a consultant to its delegation attending the United Nations Conference on Narcotic Drugs. Chief Judge Re continued to teach as an adjunct professor while serving on the bench, and returned to St. John's Law School after retiring from the Court Of International Trade in 1992 where he remained a full-time faculty member until 2003.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy named Re chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. He simultaneously served as a Master in Chancery and Referee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 nominated Re as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. In 1969, Johnson nominated Re to be a judge of the United States Customs Court, and President Jimmy Carter made him Chief Judge of that court in 1977. Re became Chief Judge of the Court of International Trade on November 1, 1980. He retired from the federal bench in 1991.

Re played many instruments professionally and was a member of American Federation of Musicians Local 802 in New York since 1938. Re was an orchestra leader, a backup drummer for Buddy Rich, a professional violinist, and he also studied Vibraphone under the tutelage of Lionel Hampton.

Re was married to the former Margaret Anne Corcoran, June 3, 1950, in St. Aidan's Church, Williston Park, Long Island, New York. Mrs. Re received a B. A. Degree from Manhattanville College of Sacred Heart, 1944, and an LL.B. from St. John's University School of Law, 1950, and that year was admitted to the New York Bar and was admitted to the U. S. Supreme Court in 1961. Together the couple had twelve children: Mary Ann, Anthony John, Marina, Edward Domenic Jr., Victor Michael, Margaret Theresa, Matthew James, Joseph Robert, Mary Elizabeth, Mary Joan, Mary Ellen, and Nancy Madeleine.

Re died on September 17, 2006.

Publications

Re published more than 30 books which include:

• Foreign Confiscations in Anglo-American Law, Oceana Pub. 1951
• Brief Writing and Oral Argument, Oceana Pub. 1951 to 2004 (13 Editions)
• Brief Writing and Oral Argument, Oceana Pub. 6th Edition, NY Times Best Selling Law Book 1987
• Selected Essays on Equity, Oceana Pub. 1955
• Cases and Materials on International Law, Co author Orfield, Bobbs-Merrill 1955 ( republished by University Press of London 1965)
• Cases and Materials on International Law, Co author Chafee, Jr., Foundation Press 1958 to 1967 ( 5 Editions)
• Cases and Materials on Equity and Equitable Remedies, Foundation Press 1975
• Freedom's Prophet, Oceana Pub.1981
• Cases and Materials on Remedies, Foundation Press 1982
• Legal Writing Manual, Oceana Pub. 1991
• Remedies, Foundation Press,2000

It is conservatively estimated that Re published more than 250 scholarly articles on a broad range of topics, (for example, Roman Contributions to American Law, The Nationalization of Foreign-Owned Property, The Quarantine of Cuba, Mobilization for Peace, Columbus Contribution to America, The Role of the Lawyer, Judicial Independence, The Popular Dissatisfaction of the American Lawyer), his writings reflecting not only his mastery of international law, but also a keen interest and understanding of many cultures, languages and professions.

References

• The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia (Garland Publishing, 2000), p. 535
• "Deaths: Re, Judge Edward D.", New York Times, Nov. 19, 2006

• Edward D. Re at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.