317:, which carried a maximum sentence of 25 years to life. After several hearings regarding his competency and against the advice of his lawyer, Chapman pleaded guilty on June 22, 1981. In accepting the plea, Judge Edwards informed Chapman that he would hand down a sentence of only 20 years to life because he had entered his guilty plea voluntarily. In a very unusual move, Edwards closed the proceedings to the public and press without prior notice or holding a hearing. According to the court transcript, that Edwards expressed concern that if he did not accept the plea, his decision might later prejudice a jury at trial as the result of having to ask Chapman specific questions about the crime. At the formal sentencing on August 24, Judge Edwards also recommended that Chapman receive psychiatric treatment during his imprisonment. Chapman's lawyer appealed the guilty plea and sentence on the grounds that Chapman was mentally incompetent when he made his plea, but in 1984, the
340:
Edward married
Dorothy Fairclough, who died in 2016. He was survived by his two daughters Lynne Edwards Engelskirchen and Denise Edwards Young, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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to prepare himself for a political science course, and it was there that the other members urged him to study law.
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in 1937 and then from New York
University in 1941. While attending N.Y.U., he became a member of his
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239:. His parents were Dennis Edwards Sr. and Gladys Edwards (née Wilson). He graduated from
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422:"Ten New Judges Sworn by Mayor – 13 Others Are Also Installed in Ceremony in City Hall".
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465:"'Death is too good for him' - Angry fans see Chapman plead guilty to Lennon killing"
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371:"Dennis Edwards, Judge Who Presided Over Trial of Lennon's Killer, Dies at 95"
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305:, and several months later, presided over his best-known case, that of
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492:"Chapman, in a Closed Courtroom, Pleads Guilty to Killing of Lennon"
223:(August 19, 1921 – April 13, 2017) was a judge in New York City.
286:. Among the notable cases he heard was that of restaurateur
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in 1944, and then took a job in the legal department of the
397:"Toots Shor Accused In Assault Charges Filed by a Customer"
595:"3 Judges and Lawyer Chosen by Cuomo for Court of Claims"
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in 1983, where he served until his retirement in 1989.
518:"Closed Court in Lennon Case Please Termed Unusual"
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569:"The City – Guilty Plea Upheld In Lennon Slaying"
301:In 1980, Edwards was named an acting justice of
438:"The City – 14 Get New Terms On Criminal Court"
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544:"Chapman Given 20 Years in Lennon's Slaying"
267:. In 1948, he became law secretary to the
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575:. United Press International. May 2, 1984
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691:21st-century African-American people
249:local Democratic Party organization
369:Grimes, William (April 27, 2017).
265:Service Transportation Corporation
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656:DeWitt Clinton High School alumni
601:. Associated Press. June 12, 1983
271:, where he served under Justices
321:court upheld Edwards’ decision.
313:. The charge was second-degree
636:New York Supreme Court Justices
542:Shipp, E.R. (August 25, 1981).
463:Wysoki, David (June 23, 1981).
641:Politicians from New York City
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686:20th-century American lawyers
516:Shipp, E.R. (June 28, 1981).
490:Shipp, E.R. (June 23, 1981).
278:In 1965, New York City Mayor
681:20th-century American judges
471:. United Press International
284:New York City Criminal Court
269:New York State Supreme Court
166:Lynne Edwards Engelskirchen
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661:New York University alumni
403:. May 13, 1967. p. 36
275:and Henry Clay Greenberg.
241:DeWitt Clinton High School
158:Dorothy Fairclough Edwards
16:American judge (1921–2017)
666:Harvard Law School alumni
328:nominated Edwards to the
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303:New York Supreme Court
34:New York Supreme Court
273:Benjamin F. Schreiber
231:Edwards was born in
168:Denise Edwards Young
444:. December 19, 1981
189:New York University
651:People from Harlem
599:The New York Times
573:The New York Times
548:The New York Times
522:The New York Times
496:The New York Times
442:The New York Times
426:. January 1, 1972.
424:The New York Times
401:The New York Times
375:The New York Times
324:New York Governor
319:Appellate Division
307:Mark David Chapman
261:Harvard Law School
221:Dennis Edwards Jr.
193:Harvard Law School
177:New York, New York
23:Dennis Edwards Jr.
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255:Legal career
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124:(2017-04-13)
83:Nominated by
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53:Nominated by
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631:2017 deaths
626:1921 births
311:John Lennon
139:Nationality
620:Categories
344:References
288:Toots Shor
227:Early life
207:Profession
199:Occupation
184:Alma mater
150:Democratic
605:April 25,
579:April 25,
553:April 25,
527:April 25,
501:April 25,
475:April 25,
448:April 25,
407:April 25,
381:April 25,
298:in 1981.
245:the Bronx
173:Residence
77:1983–1989
73:In office
47:1980–1982
43:In office
163:Children
142:American
133:New York
113:New York
469:upi.com
315:murder
233:Harlem
210:Lawyer
155:Spouse
109:Harlem
235:, in
202:Judge
607:2017
581:2017
555:2017
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409:2017
383:2017
119:Died
103:Born
243:in
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351:^
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