Celebrating Hon. I. Leo Glasser ’48 at 100 with a Special Video
The Brooklyn Law School community celebrates the 100th birthday of Hon. I. Leo Glasser ’48, U. S. District Court Judge of the Eastern District of New York. A brilliant alumnus and scholar, a beloved professor and mentor to many, and our distinguished dean from 1977-’81, Judge Glasser has been a treasured member of our community for more than three-quarters of a century.
This year, Judge Glasser also celebrates his 43rd year on the federal bench, to which he was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1981. In recognition of his distinguished service, the EDNY in 2022 dedicated a courtroom in his honor.
In our special video to celebrate the occasion, which you can see here, former students, colleagues past and present, friends, and family share reminiscences and their wishes to Judge Glasser for a very joyous birthday.
On April 3, Dean David Meyer attended a celebratory gathering held by the EDNY for Judge Glasser that brought together hundreds of colleagues, friends, and four generations of Glasser’s family to mark the occasion and honor his extraordinary life of service. Chief Judge Margo Brodie, an adjunct professor at BLS, presided over the celebration, remarking that Judge Glasser’s “integrity, longevity, intellect, life experience, and his big heart deserve to be emulated and celebrated.”
Among the many esteemed guests was Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who described Judge Glasser’s courtroom presence as “a maestro at work, delivering a master class in judging.” Well wishes were also conveyed from afar from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Former EDNY Chief Judge Raymond Dearie, while praising Judge Glasser’s wisdom, jested that he possesses the insight “of a man twice his age.”
A lifelong New Yorker, Judge Glasser was born on April 6, 1924, to a hardworking family on the Lower East Side. He, too, worked from an early age, selling newspapers on the street corner and later becoming a copy boy and junior editor.
From working days and earning his B.A. at City College at night, Judge Glasser went on to serve in the U.S. Army with distinction during World War II, in a mobile, half-track anti-aircraft battalion. He was awarded the Bronze Star for extraordinary service.
Following military service, he attended Brooklyn Law on the G.I. Bill. While pursuing his degree, he also revived the law review, which had been suspended during the war, and became its editor-in-chief. After graduating in 1948, he was offered a teaching fellowship at the Law School, and two years later he joined the faculty until 1969, when he was appointed as a judge for the New York State Family Court.
To the Law School’s great good fortune, Judge Glasser returned in 1977 to serve as dean until 1981, in which time he greatly enhanced the school’s profile and reputation through the addition of esteemed faculty.
In 2014, to honor the judge’s career and service to the Law School and to mark his 90th birthday, the Glasser Scholarship program was created by the Board of Trustees. Now, on his 100th, we again thank Judge Glasser for his service and leadership, and for his many years of dedication and friendship to Brooklyn Law.