Benjamin J. Rabin (June 3, 1896 – February 22, 1969) was an American lawyer, jurist,

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

veteran, and politician who served one term as a Democratic member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

from 1945 to 1947.

Background

Benjamin Jacob Rabin was born on June 3, 1896, in

Rochester, New York Rochester is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Monroe County, New York, United States. It is the List of municipalities in New York, fourth-most populous city and 10th most-populated municipality in New York, with a populati ...

. He attended

New York University School of Law The New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it was the first law school established in New York City and is the oldest survivin ...

World War I

Rabin left school to join the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

. He served from May 30, 1917, until January 1919, and attained the rank of ensign. Rabin remained in the Navy Reserve until 1921. He graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1919.

Career

In 1919, Rabin attained admission to the bar and became an attorney. In 1934–1935, Rabin served as counsel to the

New York State Legislature The New York State Legislature consists of the Bicameralism, two houses that act as the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York: the New York State Senate and the New York State Assem ...

's joint committee that investigated guaranteed mortgages. He then served as counsel to the New York York State Mortgage Commission 1935-1937 and chairman of the commission 1937–1939. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he headed the Bronx Board of Appeals Board for the Selective Service System.

Congress

In 1944, Rabin was elected to Congress as a Democrat, having accepted support from the

Liberal Party of New York State The Liberal Party of New York is a political party in New York. Its platform supports a standard set of socially liberal policies, including abortion rights, increased spending on education, and universal health care. History Creation Members ...

but not the

American Labor Party The American Labor Party (ALP) was a political party in the United States established in 1936 that was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party of ...

. He served from January 3, 1945, until his nomination on August 7, 1947, by the Democratic judicial district convention for a vacancy as Justice of the

New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the superior court in the Judiciary of New York. It is vested with unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, although in many counties outside New York City it acts primarily as a court of civil ju ...

Jurist

On November 4, 1947, Rabin was elected to the New York Supreme Court for a full fourteen-year term. He resigned his seat formally on December 31, 1947. (

Leo Isacson Leo Leous Isacson (April 20, 1910 – September 21, 1996) was a New York attorney and politician. He won a 1948 special election to the United States House of Representatives from New York's twenty-fourth district (Bronx) as the candidate of the ...

won his congressional seat.) In January 1955, Rabin was appointed an associate justice of the Supreme Court's appellate division for the term ending December 31, 1961. He was reelected in 1961, and served as a judge from January 5, 1948, until his death.

Personal life

Rabin married Syd Sobel Rabin; they had no children.

Death

Rabin died age 70 on February 22, 1969, in

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Florida, ...

. He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in

Saddle Brook, New Jersey Saddle Brook is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 14,294, an increase of 635 (+4.6%) from the 2010 census count of 13,659, which in turn reflected ...

References

New York University School of Law alumni 1896 births 1969 deaths Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) New York Supreme Court justices 20th-century New York state court judges New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department justices 20th-century New York (state) politicians 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives {{NewYork-Representative-stub