Charles J. Margiotti

Charles Joseph Margiotti

1937 photograph
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office
July 5, 1950 – March 2, 1951
Preceded by T. McKeen Chidsey
Succeeded by Robert E. Woodside
In office
January 15, 1935 – April 27, 1938
Preceded by William A. Schnader
Succeeded by Guy K. Bard
Personal details
Born (1891-04-09)April 9, 1891
Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Died August 25, 1956(1956-08-25) (aged 65)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma mater Indiana Normal School, University of Pennsylvania Law School

Charles Joseph Margiotti (April 9, 1891 – August 25, 1956) was a nationally prominent[1] Pennsylvania lawyer, who served twice as state Attorney General.

Life and career

Margiotti was born the son of Joseph and Fortunata Recca Margiotti. His undergraduate education was at the Indiana Normal School (1912), and his law school education was at the University of Pennsylvania (1915).[2]

In 1934, Margiotti ran for the Republican nomination for state Governor, losing to Attorney General William A. Schnader. He then switched parties and successfully supported George Earle, who then appointed Margiotti Schnader's successor as Attorney General.

In 1935, Margiotti was appointed state Attorney General by Governor Earle. He prosecuted a number of graft cases involving Earle's administration.[3] He himself was accused of arranging excessive tax collection fees for his own law firm, and sued The Philadelphia Inquirer for libel over their coverage.[4]

In 1938, Margiotti ran for the Democratic nomination for state Governor.[3] He campaigned on the issue that the Earle administration was corrupt, and Earle dismissed him. Margiotti lost the nomination to Charles Alvin Jones. This time Margiotti did not switch parties.[5]

In 1950, Margiotti was appointed again as state Attorney General, by Republican Governor Jim Duff, a personal friend. The incoming 1951 governor, Republican John Fine, in submitting his Cabinet nominees for approval to the General Assembly, left the Attorney General position blank, intending to retain Margiotti without giving the General Assembly a chance to reject him. The Democrats responded by blocking all Cabinet appointments in protest against Margiotti, and after a six-week standoff, Margiotti resigned.[6][5]

Prominent cases

Margiotti was the prosecutor in the murder trial of Irene Schroeder.[1][7]

Margiotti successfully defended Senator James J. Davis, who had been accused of running a lottery by mail on behalf of the Loyal Order of Moose.[1][8]

Margiotti successfully defended federal judge Albert W. Johnson and others who had been accused of conspiracy to sell justice.[1][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "C. J. Margiotti, 65, Lawyer, is Dead". New York Times. August 26, 1956. p. 85.
  2. ↑ The Pennsylvania Manual, 1935–36. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1936.
  3. 1 2 "In Pennsylvania Race for the Governorship". New York Times. February 16, 1938. p. 11.
  4. ↑ "Grill Margiotti for Four Hours in Libel Trial". Chicago Daily Tribune. February 13, 1936. p. 20.
  5. 1 2 Beers 2010, p. 146.
  6. ↑ "Margiotti Offers to Quit; Pennsylvania Attorney General Cause of Cabinet Block". New York Times. February 25, 1951. p. 43.
  7. ↑ Beers 2010, p. 145.
  8. ↑ "United States v. Davis". www.leagle.com. Leagle, Inc. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  9. ↑ "United States v. Johnson". www.leagle.com. Leagle, Inc. Retrieved 2015-06-10.

Further reading

Legal offices
Preceded by
William A. Schnader		 Pennsylvania Attorney General
1935–1938 		Succeeded by
Guy K. Bard
Preceded by
T. McKeen Chidsey		 Pennsylvania Attorney General
1950–1951 		Succeeded by
Robert E. Woodside
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