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I remember that at first he said to me, “I only hear cases valued under $2000.” Somebody would fall downstairs or not pay his rent. They were nothing as intricate, difficult or challenging as the cases I heard every day in workmen's compensation claims. The judgeships really did deal with awfully small matters. He, of course, went on to higher circles of judgeship.
Some very good people have been selected in just that way, however. Another man selected in just that way was Ferdinand Pecora. He was appointed to a judgeship in just this technique. So every now and then they hit quite a good person by this technique, but they also hit some pretty poor people too.
Mancuso was appointed at one of these points. I remember personally protesting Mancuso to somebody because he had appeared before us in workmen's compensation cases as a lawyer and I thought he was not a good lawyer. I can't think if he was appointed by Roosevelt or Smith. I didn't protest in any public way, but I just spoke my piece. I couldn't see why he should be considered. I didn't think he had it in him to be a good judge, but as a matter of fact he was apparently quite a good judge for a long time. He's recently been caught up with something (1952), but apparently he was quite a good judge and as a judge he did justice. People felt confidence in his ability to conduct a trial. Lawyers spoke well of him.
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