Bernard Botein

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Bernard Botein (New York State Court System)

Bernard Botein was a prominent reformer of New York State's judicial system.

Justice Bernard Botein (May 6, 1900—February 3, 1974) was born and raised in New York City and worked his way all the way through Brooklyn Law School. In 1929 he became head of the city's Accident Fraud Bureau, where he successfully fought numerous "ambulance chasers." In 1941 Botein became a justice in the state's Supreme Court, and from 1958 to 1968 he was named Presiding Justice. Afterwards he joined a private firm and stayed involved in politics. Among his books are Trial Judge (1952) and Our Cities Burn (1972).