T. F. Gilroy Daly | |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut | |
| In office 1983–1988 | |
| Preceded by | T. Emmet Clarie |
| Succeeded by | Ellen Bree Burns |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut | |
| In office August 5, 1977 – July 11, 1996 | |
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Robert C. Zampano |
| Succeeded by | Janet C. Hall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Francis Gilroy Daly (1931-02-25)February 25, 1931 Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 1996(1996-07-11) (aged 65) Roxbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) Yale University (LLB) |
Thomas Francis Gilroy Daly (February 25, 1931 – July 11, 1996) was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He was the younger brother ofMichael J. Daly, who received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for actions during World War II.
BornThomas Francis Gilroy Daly on February 25, 1931, inFairfield,Connecticut,[1] Daly graduated fromGeorgetown College (now Georgetown University) with aBachelor of Arts degree in 1952. He served in theUnited States Army Rangers as a lieutenant from 1952 to 1954. He received aBachelor of Laws in 1957 fromYale Law School. He was in private practice inWashington, D.C. from 1957 to 1961. He was anAssistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1961 to 1964. He was in private practice in Fairfield from 1964 to 1967. He was a deputy attorney general of the State of Connecticut from 1967 to 1971. He was a special assistant to the attorney general of the State of Connecticut from 1971 to 1975. He was a deputy treasurer of the State of Connecticut from 1975 to 1976. He was the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut from 1976 to 1977.[2]
Daly's great-grandfather,Thomas Francis Gilroy, was anIrish immigrant who wasMayor of New York City in the 1890s. His father, Colonel Paul Daly, was a World War I and World War II veteran who had received theDistinguished Service Cross and twice been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Daly's brother,Michael J. Daly, was aMedal of Honor recipient for actions duringWorld War II.[3]
As a trial lawyer, Daly gained prominence when he won freedom for Peter A. Reilly ofLitchfield County, Connecticut, who had been wrongfully convicted of murdering his mother. With the help of a private investigator, Daly uncovered new evidence that resulted in Reilly being cleared of the crime and released from jail.[4]
Daly was nominated by PresidentJimmy Carter on June 29, 1977, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut vacated by JudgeRobert C. Zampano. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on August 5, 1977, and received his commission on August 5, 1977. He served as Chief Judge from 1983 to 1988.[2] His service terminated on July 11, 1996, due to his death ofmelanoma in his home inRoxbury, Connecticut. During his tenure, he reduced a severe backlog of cases by calling on out-of-state judges to help try Connecticut cases and by winning approval for additional full-time judges.[4]
As a judge, Daly presided over several high-profile trials, including theWaterbury, Connecticut municipal corruption case, which ended in 1992 when he sent the former MayorJoseph J. Santopietro to Federal prison for nine years. In May 1995, in a landmark decision, he ruled that state police can be held liable for taping telephone conversations in barracks.[4]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut 1977–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut 1983–1988 | Succeeded by |