Manhattan D.A. to lecture at Whitman on ‘Trends in Law Enforcement’

Manhattan D.A. to lecture at Whitman on ‘Trends in Law Enforcement’ April 02, 2007Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

Sales-tax evasion, tax-fraud, organized crime, corruption and white-collar crime — these are just a few illegalities that Robert Morgenthau, district attorney for the County of New York, has become nationally known for prosecuting.

Morgenthau will talk about how he took on execs from some of the biggest companies in the world and what the current developments in law enforcement are shaping up to be April 16 at 11 a.m. as part of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s fourth annual Whitman Day. The lecture, titled “Current Developments in Law Enforcement,” will take place in Lender Auditorium, located on the Concourse level of the Whitman School building.

Widely believed to be the inspiration for the character of Adam Schiff on TV’s “Law & Order,” Morgenthau began his law career with New York City-based Patterson, Belknap & Webb, becoming a partner in 1954. In 1961, after 12 years of practicing corporate law, he accepted an appointment from President John F. Kennedy as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. In this capacity, Morgenthau developed a reputation as an effective opponent of tax fraud, organized crime, corruption and white-collar crime. Among other achievements, he established a special unit to investigate securities fraud and prosecuted highly publicized bribery cases against city officials and IRS attorneys and accountants.

In January of 1970, following the election of President Richard M. Nixon, Morgenthau resigned from his post and returned to private life until 1974, when he made the first of eight successful bids for election as district attorney.

Morgenthau is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and serves on the boards of the Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Paid parking is available at the University Avenue Garage.