Articles

Profile of the Hon. Joseph Grosso

By Michael Goldsmith

Acting Supreme Court Justice Joseph Grosso is a hard working Judge dedicated to the dispensation of justice with compassion.

Justice Grosso, an athletic, animated and friendly man, grew up in the Bronx. As a youth, he enjoyed playing CYO and PAL baseball. He still likes to stay fit, and keeps a 15 pound dumbell in his chambers to exercise with.

The future judge graduated Cardinal Spellman High School. “Ever since grade school, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer,” said the Judge. “As a kid, I was always in trouble with the nuns, and had to talk my way out. I thought it would be a good idea to earn a living that way,” continued the Judge with a smile.

Justice Grosso received his B.A. from Fordham University, where he played intramural football and basketball. He was also a member of Phi Sigma Alpha, an honor society for political science, which was his major, and was also on the Dean’s List for his last three years.

In 1977, Justice Grosso received his J.D. from New York Law School, and began his legal career in the N.Y.C. Transit Authority’s Labor Relations Department.

The following year, Justice Grosso began his career in the judicial system as a Law Assistant to Supreme Court Justice Mel Glass.

After a brief stint in the Criminal Court Law Department, Justice Grosso served as Law Assistant to Supreme Court Justice Tony Savarese.

In December, 1980, Justice Grosso was named Chief Law Assistant for the entire New York City Criminal Court. He served in that capacity until he was appointed to the Criminal Court 10 years later.

As Chief Law Assistant, Justice Grosso had the opportunity give advice on many high profile cases, including The John Lennon Assassination, The Happy Lands Arson, and the Palm Sunday Massacre Case. He also assisted Justice Steven Krane on the jury charge as to justification at the trial of Bernie Geotz. “I was also at the Mr. Geotz’ arraignment, just to make sure it went smoothly.

While serving as Chief Law Assistant, Justice Grosso had the opportunity to set many procedures, and to design many court forms that are still in use, including that for Orders of Protection. He also wrote the Criminal Court Procedure Manual for Judges.

In January, 1990, Justice Grosso began his career on the bench when he was appointed to serve as a Criminal Court Judge. He was named acting Supreme Court Justice some time around 1998, and since September, 1999, Justice Grosso has sat in the TAP-A part in Kew Gardens.

“At my part, we have a huge caseload,” said the Judge. “There is only one other TAP part. I would just like people to remember that all parties, such as the prosecutor, the defense attorney, the court reporter, etc., are all working towards the same goal, which is to do justice first in the service of the people. We all work very hard to do justice for all who appear before us. I would want my legacy to be the last case I ever presided over. The most important case is the one I have right in front of me,” said Justice Grosso.

While Justice Grosso often works long hours, and deals with a crushing volume, he loves what he does, and appreciates the people he works with. “You have to love what you do, and try to have fun while you are doing it, or it is not worth trying,” said the Judge. I have been blessed to have worked with good people, including Judges Steven Fisher, Bill Donnino, Pete McQuillan, Matt Sobel, Steve Krane, and current law secretary Toko Serita. Not bad from a street kid from the Bronx!”

Judge Grosso recalled an amusing anecdote from his days at night court. This was the case about being mooned by the man in the moon. “About four years ago,” said the Judge, “I was presiding over arraignments. A man charged with turnstile jumping appeared before me. We were about to do a plea allocution. I asked him if he jumped the turnstile. He said “No, I was beamed there from the moon.” The man then added, “I have been the holding cell freezing my butt off. See?” said the man as he dropped his pants in the middle of the courtroom. Justice Grosso then quietly ordered a “730" which is a psychiatric evaluation.

Justice Grosso is involved in many activities. He is the Co-Chair of the OCA Judicial Curriculum Committee, and gives many OCA lectures. He is also a member of CJI Criminal Jury Instruction, of which Justice Steven Fischer is co-chair. Justice Grosse serves as a Eucharistic Minister in church, and is involved in the Centering Prayer Group, which is a Catholic Contemplative prayer group.

With all this on his plate, when asked how he likes to spend his off hours, Justice Grosso replied quickly, “I like to spend quality time with my wife Doreen. Without her, none of my other accomplishments would be possible. Justice Grosso is a proud family man, and he and his wife have three adopted sons. John, the oldest, currently lives in California. Mike is attending school in Albany, and Joe, the youngest, still lives at home.

Aside from his family and the law, Justice Grosso’s passion is baseball, both playing, and following the exploits of the his beloved Yankees. He keeps a baseball on his desk, and flips it back and forth with his law secretary while discussing legal issues. He also has a chart for pitch gripping pasted to the book shelf next to all his legal reference books.