SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: AFTER HIS RECOMMENDATION, U.S. SENATE HAS CONFIRMED LAWRENCE J. VILARDO, BUFFALO NATIVE & DISTINGUISHED WNY ATTORNEY, TO SERVE ON FEDERAL BENCH IN BUFFALO
Vilardo Is A Harvard- And Canisius-Educated, Buffalo-Bred Litigator, And A Founding Partner Of The Law Firm Connors & Vilardo, LLP
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that Lawrence Joseph Vilardo, whom Schumer recommended to President Obama, has been confirmed by the Senate (88-0) to serve as a federal court judge in the Western District of New York (WDNY). In February, the President nominated Vilardo. Schumer has fought long and hard advocating for Vilardo’s confirmation.
This past July, Schumer went to the floor of the Senate to urge his colleagues to immediately confirm Vilardo’s nomination. Schumer said the Western District sees more criminal cases than Washington, DC, Boston, or Cleveland, but has been operating without a sitting federal district judge, creating a severe backlog and forcing two judges on senior status to continue hearing cases. Now, with Vilardo as a full-time judge, he can help alleviate the judicial backlog.
“I am thrilled that Larry has been confirmed to serve as District Judge for the Western District of New York,” said Schumer. “Larry Vilardo has a tremendous legal acumen, a proven commitment to serving the community and is deeply committed to Buffalo – a city where he was born, raised, educated, and raised his own family. I am confident he will be a fair and well-respected judge.”
Schumer highlighted Mr. Vilardo’s tremendous legal background, proven commitment to serving the community, and a lifetime of experience in the Buffalo area, including thirty years as a practicing lawyer. Schumer also pointed to his even-handedness, patience, and analytical mind as reasons why he would make him an excellent choice for the Western District federal court.
Lawrence Joseph Vilardo is the founding partner of Connors & Vilardo, LLP, a law firm located in Buffalo. Vilardo heads the firm's appellate division and has written briefs and petitions to state and appellate courts at all levels, including the United States Supreme Court. His expertise includes business litigation, personal injury civil litigation and crime investigation. Vilardo also serves as a senior editor for the American Bar Association's Litigation Journal. He is a frequent speaker on appellate practice and legal ethics, among other topics, at law school presentations and bar association seminars. Prior to starting his own firm with his mentor, Terrence M. Connors, Vilardo served as an Appellate Practice faculty member at SUNY Buffalo’s School of Law and as a Constitutional Law faculty member at Canisus College’s School of Law. Before starting his own legal practice and working as a legal scholar, he served as an associate at Damon & Morey, LLP. Following his graduation from law school, Vilardo clerked for the Honorable Irving L. Goldberg at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, in Dallas, Texas.
Vilardo was born and raised in Buffalo, and he was educated in the city as well. He received his bachelor’s degree from Canisius College and graduated summa cum laude. He then attended Harvard Law School and graduated with magna cum laude distinction. While in law school, he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He and his wife, Jeanne Susan Vilardo, currently live in Buffalo and they have three children.
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