College News

St. John Fisher College’s 11th Justinian Medal Presented to John L. LaDuca, Esq. ’65

11/15/2012

St. John Fisher College awarded its 11^th annual Justinian Medal to John L. LaDuca, Esq. ’65 on Wednesday, November 14, at an early evening reception at the Genesee Valley Club.

The Justinian Medal is given by the College and the Justinian Order, which is comprised of 420 judges and attorneys, all graduates of Fisher, to an individual in recognition of his or her outstanding service and civic leadership in numerous professional, business, and charitable endeavors in the community and at the College.

LaDuca joins past Justinian Medal recipients Anne Dyring Riley, Esq.’80; Leo J. Kesselring, Esq. ’55; U.S. District Court Judge (senior status) David G. Larimer ’66; New York State Supreme Court Justice Francis A. Affronti ’63; Thomas N. Trevett ’64, Partner in the law firm of Trevett, Lenweaver & Salzer, PC; the Honorable Edmund A. Calvaruso ’66, Monroe County Surrogate’s Court Judge; R. Wayne LeChase, Chairman, LeChase Construction Services, LLC; the Honorable Joseph D. McGuire ’66, Supreme Court Justice in the Fifth District; Frank B. Iacovangelo, Esq. ’62; and Richard Calabrese, Esq. ’57.

“It is appropriate that such a distinguished award be presented to John for his devotion to the law, his tireless representation of his clients, his mentoring of young lawyers and college students interested in the legal field, and his willingness to share his knowledge with his colleagues,” said William McGinn, Esq., who introduced LaDuca.

LaDuca graduated from McQuaid Jesuit High School and went to the University of New Mexico on a football scholarship. He continued his education at Fisher, graduating in 1965, and then went on to study at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. After graduating law school in 1968, he was admitted to the New York State Bar that December, and started his career with well-known criminal defense attorney, Robert Napier. He spent eight years as an associate with the firm before he joined longtime friends Raymond LeChase and Alan Offen to form LaDuca, Offen and LeChase.

The firm changed to LaDuca, McGinn and Burbank, and then became LaDuca Law Firm with LaDuca’s son, Tony, and daughter-in-law, Heidi LaDuca. Today, he remains a partner of the firm with his son and associate, David Pilato, Esq. The practice is primarily focused on criminal defense in Monroe County, but LaDuca has also handled trials in the counties surrounding Rochester and the Federal Court in the Western District of New York. Additionally, he has argued appeals in the Court of Appeals; Supreme Court; Appellate Division, 4^th Dept.; and Federal Circuit Court of Appeal, 2^nd Circuit. He is a member of the New York State Defenders Association.

LaDuca lives in Webster with his wife of 50 years, Becky. They have three children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is a past member of the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild Board of Governors, and remains an active coach for the College’s mock trial competition.

The Justinian Order of St. John Fisher College, formed in the spring of 2002, is an academic and legal society intended to create collegiality among Fisher graduates professionally involved in the law. The members have the opportunity to gather socially, bond professionally, and pass on the legacy of Fisher’s legal scholarship to younger Fisher alumni and students.

From L to R: Dr. Donald Bain; James Vacca, Esq. '80, President of the Justinian Order Board of Directors; John L. LaDuca, Esq. '65; and Hon. Francis A. Affronti '63, New York State Supreme Court Justice.