Notable Alumni of Brooklyn Law School

David Dinkins 1927–2020

Mayor of New York City from 1990 to 1993

Bachelor of Laws

Also attended: Howard University

Norm Coleman 1949–

Politician, attorney and lobbyist

Also attended: University of Iowa, Hofstra University

Todd Blanche 1974–

88th United States Attorney General

Also attended: American University, Beloit College

Mickey Marcus 1901–1948

US Army colonel, Israel's first modern general

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

Mark Lane 1927–2016

Lawyer and writer on the Kennedy assassination

Also attended: CUNY Brooklyn College, Long Island University

Rosalie Gardiner Jones 1883–1978

Suffragist and women's suffrage advocate

Also attended: Adelphi University

Morris Michael Edelstein 1888–1941

New York congressman and lawyer

Also attended: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Lawrence J. Smith 1941–2026

Five-term U.S. Representative from Florida

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1964

Also attended: New York University

Herman Badillo 1929–2014

Bronx borough president and U.S. Representative

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Sheldon Silver 1944–2022

Former Speaker of the New York State Assembly

Juris Doctor

Also attended: Yeshiva University, Rabbi Jacob Joseph School

John D. Clarke 1873–1933

US Representative from New York

Also attended: Colorado College, Lafayette College

Spouse: Marian W. Clarke (Colorado College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Bruce Cutler 1948–2025

Criminal defense lawyer who defended John Gotti

Also attended: Hamilton College

Percy Sutton 1920–2009

Manhattan borough president, lawyer, civil rights activist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Prairie View A&M University, Hampton University

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal 1923–1983

Democratic US congressman from New York

Also attended: CUNY--City College, Long Island University, New York University

Robert Rosenthal 1917–2007

WWII B-17 commander and lawyer

Also attended: CUNY Brooklyn College

Henry Jepson Latham 1908–2002

Former U.S. Representative and New York judge

Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws

Also attended: St John's University (NY)

Rachel Freier 1965–

New York judge, first Hasidic woman elected judge

Also attended: Touro College

John Joseph Delaney 1878–1948

U.S. representative from New York, lawyer

Juris Doctor · Class of 1914

Also attended: Manhattan University

Edward V. Sparer 1928–1983

Attorney known as the father of welfare law

Carrie Goldberg 1977–

Lawyer specializing in sex crimes

Also attended: Vassar College

John J. Bennett, Jr. 1894–1967

Lawyer, judge and politician

E. Leo Milonas 1936–2024

New York State judge and lawyer

Abraham Jacob Multer 1900–1986

Ten-term US Representative from New York

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1922

Also attended: CUNY--City College, Yeshiva University

Alejandra Caraballo 1990–

Civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School clinical instructor

Juris Doctor

Also attended: The University of Tampa

Victor Anfuso 1905–1966

Democratic US congressman from New York

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

James H. Fay 1899–1948

Democratic US congressman from New York

Attended until 1929

Lillian D. Rock 1896–1974

Lawyer and founder of League for a Woman President

David Matthew Potts 1906–1976

Lawyer and former U.S. Representative from New York

Juris Doctor · Class of 1932

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Frank D. O'Connor 1909–1992

New York lawyer, politician and judge

Also attended: Niagara University

Frieda B. Hennock 1904–1960

First female FCC commissioner

Bertram L. Podell 1925–2005

Lawyer and U.S. congressman from New York

Joseph V. Flynn 1883–1940

Former US representative from New York

Also attended: New York University, St. Lawrence University

Howard Golden 1925–2024

Brooklyn borough president from 1977 to 2001

Lester D. Volk 1884–1962

Politician, physician and lawyer from New York

Claire R. Kelly 1965–

Judge of the US Court of International Trade

Also attended: Barnard College

Bernard Madoff 1938–2021

Mastermind of largest Ponzi scheme, ex-Nasdaq chairman

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Hofstra University

Spouse: Ruth Madoff (CUNY Queens College, New York University)

Larry Silverstein 1931–

Billionaire developer of the rebuilt World Trade Center

Also attended: New York University

Victor Niederhoffer 1943–2026

Hedge fund manager and U.S. squash champion

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University

Child: Galt Niederhoffer (Harvard University)

Charles S. Cohen 1952–

Real estate developer and film distributor

Also attended: Tufts University

Leon Charney 1938–2016

Real estate tycoon, attorney and author

Also attended: Yeshiva University

Irving Paul Lazar 1907–1993

Talent agent, dealmaker and lawyer

George H. Ross 1928–

Former senior counsel of the Trump Organization

Also attended: Clemson University

Alexander Lowen 1910–2008

Physician and psychotherapist

Doctor of Juridical Science, Bachelor of Laws · Jurisprudence · Class of 1936

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Randall Amster 1965–

Author, activist and educator at Georgetown University

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, University of Rochester

Claire Holt 1901–1970

Journalist, anthropologist and Indonesian art historian

Paul Simon 1941–

Singer-songwriter of Simon & Garfunkel

Not completed · Class of 1964

Also attended: CUNY Queens College

Spouse: Carrie Fisher (Sarah Lawrence College)

Child: Harper Simon (Berklee College of Music)

Geraldo Rivera 1943–

Journalist and talk show host

Juris Doctor

Also attended: University of Arizona, Columbia University in the City of New York, SUNY Maritime College

Sibling: Craig Rivera (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania)

Kevin Heffernan 1968–

Actor and Broken Lizard comedy group member

Also attended: Colgate University

Harold Rosenberg 1906–1978

Art critic who coined "Action Painting"

Bill Mantlo 1951–

Marvel comic writer, co-creator of Rocket Raccoon

Also attended: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Hy Zaret 1907–2007

Lyricist of Unchained Melody

Also attended: West Virginia University

Hal Mooney 1911–1995

Composer, arranger and bandleader

Irving Fein 1911–2012

Producer and manager of Jack Benny and George Burns

Bruce Ricker 1942–2011

Jazz and blues documentary filmmaker

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Brian Sullivan 1971–

CNBC news anchor and business journalist

Also attended: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Himan Brown 1910–2010

Radio and television program producer

Also attended: CUNY Brooklyn College

Edwin Torres 1931–

New York Supreme Court justice and novelist

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Yuliya Levitan 1973–

Chess player and Woman International Master

Also attended: New York University

Jared Jaffee 1981–

Poker player

Also attended: Emory University

Monique Mehta 1973–

Humanitarian and political activist

Also attended: Colgate University