John Joseph Sirica

Background

SIRICA, John was born on March 19, 1904 in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States. Son of Fred and Rose (Zinno) Sirica.

Education

Bachelor of Laws, Georgetown University, 1926. Degree (honorary), College New Rochelle, New York. Degree (honorary), Brown University.

Degree (honorary), New England School Law, Boston. Degree (honorary), Fairfield University, Connecticut. Degree (honorary), City University of New York.

Degree (honorary), Duke University. Degree (honorary), Georgetown University.

Career

Private practice of law in Washington, D.C. from 1926 to 1930. Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1930 to 1934. Private practice from 1934 to 1957. United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 1957. Chief Judge and a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1971 to 1974. Assumed senior status on October 31, 1977. Terminated service on August 14, 1992.

Achievements

• He came to national prominence when he presided over the Watergate affair trials and confronted President Richard Nixon's claim of executive privilege used to protect private presidential tapes. He was chosen "1973 Man of the Year" by Time Magazine. Sirica published a book, co-authored with John Stacks, detailing his participation in the Watergate cases under the title To Set the Record Straight.

Works

More photos

• book

  • To Set the Record Straight: The Break-In, the Tapes, the Conspirators, the Pardon

    (To Set the Record Straight: The Break-in, the Tapes, the ...)

  • To Set the Record Straight

    (Judge Sirica, who oversaw the original Watergate trial, t...)

References

• When One Stood Alone: John J. Sirica's Battle Against the Watergate Conspiracy: A Tale of Moral Courage