Holtzman, Lester, 1913-2002

Lester Holtzman (June 1, 1913 – November 12, 2002) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served five terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1961 and was a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1962 until 1973.

Born in New York City, he attended Newtown High School in Queens until his father bought a small grocery where Lester would work while doing Prelaw work in the evening. He was the president of his class at St. John's University School of Law and graduated with an LL.B. in 1936. Afterwards, he went into private practice in Queens.

Holtzman had sought political jobs for several years; once receiving an offer from the Federal Housing Administration. He ran for Congress in 1952, a year that saw Dwight Eisenhower sweep into the White House and the Republicans picked up 22 seats in the House of Representatives. During the campaign, he promised that he would cease takeoffs by low-flying aircraft into Laguardia Airport, which was in the district. Holtzman admitted later this was a lie and was the only lie he consciously told in his career. He defeated incumbent Robert Tripp Ross by a close 300 votes becoming the only Democrat to unseat a Republican that year, and the first Jewish congressman from Queens. In his career, Holtzman was generally a backbencher who supported civil rights, Israel and organized labor; but never introduced any legislation that was signed into law.

After his re-election in 1960, Holtzman decided to run for a seat on the state Supreme Court. The 14-year term and increased salary would give him a measure of security. He secured the nomination thanks to assistance from President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert. As a justice, he handled the first divorce case in New York after laws were reformed. In 1971, he was assigned a case that challenged New York's 1970 legalization of abortion. In Byrn v. New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., Holtzman ruled that Professor Robert Byrn of Fordham University could act as a guardian for the unborn, which afforded him legal standing to file suit overturn the state's abortion law. He also entered an order for the city hospitals to show cause why they should not cease abortion procedures while the law was being challenged. In 1972, Byrn's challenge was decided by an opinion of the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals in which fetuses were not found to have personhood.

Holtzman retired from the bench in 1973 to become the president of the Queens Savings & Loan Association. He died in Tamarac, Florida on November 12, 2002.