Frederic Block

Background

Frederic was born on June 6, 1934 in Brooklyn. The son of Norman Louis and Florence (Ferman) Block.

Education

Block received an Artium Baccalaureus from Indiana University in 1956 and a Bachelor of Laws from Cornell Law School in 1959.

Career

Frederic Block was a clerk to the New York Supreme Court, appellate division, from 1959 to 1961. He was in private practice of law in Patchogue from 1961 to 1962, then in Port Jefferson, Centereach, and Smithtown, moving back and forth between these locations from 1962 to 1994. During this time, he became an adjunct professor at Touro Law School, beginning in 1992.

On July 22, 1994, Block was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by Eugene H. Nickerson. Block was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 28, 1994, and received his commission the next day. He assumed senior status on September 1, 2005, and was succeeded by Judge Brian Cogan.

In 2005, Block complained that working as a judge in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan was like being a denizen of Fallujah rather than the Green Zone. -On April 15, 2004, Judge Block sentenced Gambino crime family boss Peter Gotti to 9 years and 4 months in prison for money laundering and racketeering charges. Gotti had a subsequent conviction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for plotting to murder informant and former Gambino underboss Sammy Gravano.

Senior district judge Frederic Block dismissed claims of copyright infringement and unfair competition which were brought by Chanin. Judge Block Decision.

Achievements

• Frederic Block has been listed as a reputable lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. He was named a Man of Year by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1984.

Membership

Counsel education committee New York State Constitutional Convention, 1967. Member Suffolk CountyCharter Review Commission, New York, 1968-1970. Fellow American Bar Foundation, New York Bar Foundation.

Member of New York State Bar Association (special counsel 1981, vice president 1983-1986), Suffolk County Bar Association (president 1979-1980, President's award 1985), New York State Association School Attorneys (president 1982), New York State Conference Bar Leaders (chairman 1980-1982).

Interests

• Avocation: musical composition.

Connections

Frederic Block is married to Estelle Lenora Kaufman. They have two children, Neil M. and Nancy L.

Father:

Norman Louis Block

Mother:

Florence (Ferman) Block

Spouse:

Estelle Lenora Kaufman

child:

Nancy L. Block

child:

Neil M. Block