Edward DeSaulnier
Portrait of Edward DeSaulnier
Judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court
In office
1958–1972
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
In office
1957–1958
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1949–1957
Personal details
Born
Edward Joseph DeSaulnier Jr

(1921-01-08)January 8, 1921
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, US
DiedApril 20, 1989(1989-04-20) (aged 68)
Juno Beach, Florida, US
Children5, including Mark DeSaulnier
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
Boston University (LLB)

Edward Joseph DeSaulnier Jr. (January 8, 1921 – April 20, 1989) was an American politician and judge from the commonwealth of Massachusetts. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1949 to 1957, in the Massachusetts Senate from 1957 to 1958, and on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 1958 to 1972. His son, Mark DeSaulnier, is a member of the United States House of Representatives from California.

Early life

DeSaulnier was from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the son of a French Canadian immigrant.[1] He attended the College of the Holy Cross, then during World War II, served as a combat pilot in the United States Marine Corps; he served during the Battle of Iwo Jima. After the war, he graduated from the Boston University School of Law.[2]

Career

DeSaulnier served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1949 to 1957, then served one term in the Massachusetts Senate.[3][4] Governor Foster Furcolo appointed DeSaulnier to the Massachusetts Superior Court in December 1958.[2][3]

In 1971, DeSaulnier was accused of accepting bribes from a criminal defendant. Although the statute of limitations meant he could not be charged, he was disbarred by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on January 11, 1972,[5] and resigned his judgeship.[2]

After his disbarment, DeSaulnier worked for a company that sold bulletproof vests.[6] He developed alcoholism, recovered, and then earned a degree from Rutgers University's School of Alcohol Studies and became deputy director of Broward County, Florida's commission on alcoholism.[7] He petitioned the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers to reinstate his law license in 1979, but his request was denied in 1980.[2] In 1981, the New England Patriots hired him to consult on issues around substance abuse.[8][2]

Personal life and death

DeSaulnier and his wife, Virginia, had five children,[2] including Mark DeSaulnier, a U.S. Congressman from California.[4][9] They raced horses under the name Claymore Stables.[3] The marriage ended in divorce; he remarried and was divorced a second time after moving to Florida.[4]

DeSaulnier, who also had a gambling problem, died in 1989 in his home in Juno Beach, Florida, by a self-inflicted gunshot.[1][2][4] He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hytha, Michael (September 10, 1998). "Supervisor Goes From Saloon Keeper to Key Power Broker / Mark DeSaulnier, owner of TR's, pours himself into politics". SFGate. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wetzel, Sally (April 28, 1989). "Edward J. DeSaulnier Jr., 68; former Superior Court judge". The Boston Globe (obituary). p. 23. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Judge stands in winner's circle". The Boston Globe. September 1, 1971. p. 43. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Borenstein, Daniel (March 21, 2020) [April 18, 1999]. "DeSaulnier meditates on political journey". East Bay Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bay State Court Disbars A Judge". New York Times. January 12, 1972. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Pilati, Joe; Langner, Paul (July 27, 1975). "'Judge' Edward DeSaulnier now selling bulletproof vests". The Boston Globe. p. 4. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Farrell, David (November 19, 1979). "Former judge makes a plea". The Boston Globe. p. 13. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "The New England Patriots announced Thursday the hiring of... - UPI Archives". Upi.com. April 23, 1981. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. ↑ Feathers, Todd (July 6, 2016). "Calif. congressman's political seed sown in Lowell area". Lowell Sun. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  10. ↑ Morain, Dan (June 8, 2014). "An old photo, money, blurred lines, architecture and Arlington". Sacramento Bee (interview). Retrieved May 22, 2023.
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