City College of New York
Brooklyn Law School. Photo: Kidfly182, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Law_School_November_2022.jpg)
Poughkeepsie. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poughkeepsie,_NY,_town_hall.jpg)
City College of New York
Brooklyn Law School. Photo: Kidfly182, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Law_School_November_2022.jpg)
Poughkeepsie. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poughkeepsie,_NY,_town_hall.jpg)
Abraham L. Banner was born on June 14, 1929, in Maspeth, New York. He was the son of Max Banner and Rose Pilpel Banner. His professional life developed in the New York metropolitan area and the Hudson Valley, where he combined private legal practice with municipal service.
Banner received a Bachelor of Science degree from the City College of New York in 1951. Founded in 1847 as the Free Academy, City College was established to provide academically strong public higher education to New York residents and had become an important urban institution by the time of his study.
He received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1954. Founded in 1901, Brooklyn Law School developed as an independent institution devoted to legal education and professional access in New York City. His legal education preceded admission to the New York bar and the beginning of his practice career.
Banner began his legal career in 1951 as an associate to Nathan L. Goldstein in New York City, remaining in that association until 1957. From 1957 to 1960 he practiced with Skinner & Bermant and Leddy & Raber in New York City, followed by Banner & Molofsky from 1960 to 1965.
In 1965 he moved his practice to Poughkeepsie, where he was associated with Guernsey, Butts & Walsh until 1974 and then with Hecht & Banner from 1974 to 1978. He also served as town attorney for the Town of Poughkeepsie from 1966 to 1967 and as town justice from 1972 to 1978, combining private practice with municipal legal and judicial responsibilities.
Banner became a member of the American Arbitration Association's panel of arbitrators in 1967. From 1978 he continued in private practice, and from 1987 he was a partner in Banner & Banner. The firm operated in Poughkeepsie as part of the local legal community serving individuals, businesses, and institutional clients.
Banner belonged to the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the New York State Bar Association, and the Dutchess County Bar Association. These organizations provided professional forums for lawyers, legal education, advocacy, and the development of standards within the profession.
He was also associated with the Masons, the Shriners, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, and the Lions. These fraternal and civic organizations traditionally combined fellowship with charitable, community, and service activities.
American Bar Association , United States
Association of Trial Lawyers of America , United States
Served as a committee chairman.
New York State Bar Association , United States
Dutchess County Bar Association , United States
Masons , United States
Shriners , United States
Knights of Pythias , United States
Elks , United States
Lions , United States
Banner was married to Selina. They had two children, Paul L. Banner and Rita L. Banner. His son Paul later practiced law with Banner & Banner in Poughkeepsie.
