Judge Neal P. McCurn

Neal P. McCurn is a United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York. At the time of his appointment in 1979, he was engaged in the private practice of law and was President of the Syracuse Common Council. He served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 1993, and assumed senior status in 1993.

Judge McCurn earned his A.B. degree from Syracuse University in 1950, and his LL.B. degree from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1952.

He served as a U.S. Maritime Commission Midshipman and Lt. j.g. (USNR) from 1944 to 1946. Following graduation from law school he entered the private practice of law with the Syracuse firm of Mackenzie, Smith, Lewis, Mitchell & Hughes, where he remained until his judicial appointment. At the time of his retirement from that firm he was Chairman of the Litigation Section and Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. He also served as President of the Common Council of the City of Syracuse from 1970 to 1979.

Judge McCurn is a past President of Onondaga County Bar Association, the Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Syracuse Law College, and the Syracuse University Alumni Association. He is past Chair of the Onondaga County American Red Cross Chapter and the National Foundation - March of Dimes Chapter. He is a member of the Syracuse Law College Board of Visitors and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.