Richard D. Simons

Richard Duncan Simons (March 23, 1927 – July 17, 2022) was an American lawyer and judge from New York. He was Acting Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1993.

Richard D. Simons
Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office 1993–1997
Acting Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office 1992–1993
Preceded by	Sol Wachtler
Succeeded by	Judith S. Kaye
Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office 1983–1992
Appointed by	Mario Cuomo
Personal details
Born	(1927-03-23)March 23, 1927 Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
Died	July 17, 2022(2022-07-17) (aged 95)

Life

Simons was in the United States Navy during World War II.

He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1963 to 1983. In January 1983, he was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Appeals. After the resignation of Sol Wachtler in November 1992, Simons was chosen Acting Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. He presided until the appointment of Judith S. Kaye in March 1993, and then resumed his seat as associate judge. He retired from the bench at the end of his 14-year term in January 1997.

His wife Muriel died aged 64 in March 1992 at the Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse, New York, after being treated for a lymphoma with a wrong drug. Cisplatin ("Platinol") was given instead of carboplatin ("Paraplatin").

He resided in Rome, New York with his second wife, Esther Tremblay Simons.

On July 17, 2022, Simons died at the age of 95.

Sources

• The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Simons Political Graveyard
• Syracuse Hospital Admits Causing Death of Patient His wife's death, in NYT on May 13, 1992
• 404 ERROR – N.Y. State Courts Listing of Court of Appeals judges, with portrait
• Pataki Gains Pick as Court Loses Judge His retirement announced, in NYT on April 6, 1996