| Emmett Fitzpatrick | |
|---|---|
| District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 7, 1974 – January 2, 1978 |
|
| Preceded by | Arlen Specter |
| Succeeded by | Ed Rendell |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Saint Joseph's University University of Pennsylvania Law School |
| Profession | Attorney, Professor, Politician |
F. Emmett Fitzpatrick is an American politician, attorney and professor. A noted criminal defense attorney,[1] he served as the District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1974 and 1978.
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Fitzpatrick grew-up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received his BA in political science from Saint Joseph's University (then known as Saint Joseph's College) in 1952. He received his LL.B degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1955.[2]
Fitzpatrick initially gained notoriety through his representation of defendants in several high-profile federal criminal cases, including RICO Act-related prosecutions.[1][2]
He served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1956 through 1962, and as First Assistant District Attorney from 1962 through 1966.[2]
In 1973, he was recruited by Philadelphia Democratic Party leaders to run against incumbent Republican District Attorney Arlen Specter.[3] He went on to win the election handily,[3] and took office the following January. During his tenure as District Attorney, he sought to shake-up the day-to-day operations of the office, whose perceived ineffectiveness was a major theme of his campaign against Specter.[3]
Fitzpatrick was, however, the subject of several ethics-related complaints during his time as District Attorney. Critics questioned the handling of a cocktail party held after Fitzpatrick's election in which attorneys who may have had future dealings with the district attorney's office paid fifty dollars to attend.[3] All proceeds from the reception went to Fitzpatrick, and the matter was recommended to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's disciplinary board for investigation.[3] Fitzpatrick was also criticized for sentence recommendations he made as District Attorney for individuals he had previously defended while in private practice.[3]
In the 1977 Democratic primary, he was defeated for renomination by Ed Rendell, who campaigned against perceived corruption within the District Attorney's office, and went on to win the general election.
After his defeat, Fitzpatrick taught numerous educational seminars and an advanced trial techniques course at the Widener University School of Law.[1] He also testified as a legal expert in various court proceedings and appeared frequently as a legal commentator on radio and television programs, including WPVI's "Inside Story".[1] Fitzpatrick also went-on to found his own law firm, based in Philadelphia.[2]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arlen Specter |
District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1974–1978 |
Succeeded by Ed Rendell |