Sol Greenberg, legendary district attorney of Albany County who served as chief prosecutor for a quarter of a century before retiring in 2000, died Thursday. A striking figure with wavy silver hair, square jaw and his familiar pipe clenched between his teeth, Greenberg, a Democrat who became a political institution, was a popular vote-getter. In a 2011 interview with the Times Union, Greenberg zeroed in on what he termed the highlight of his career, if not his legacy — the introduction of DNA into the criminal justice system in Albany County. The trial was preceded by a months-long hearing before the late Albany County Judge Joseph Harris at which scientists and pathologists and others in the legal, medical and scientific communities testified. Wesley was convicted in the landmark case and appeals courts upheld the verdict. Greenberg could rattle off statistics that marked his time in office — nearly 400 homicides handled, some 400 grand juries drawn, about 90 lawyers passed through as assistants. In 1974, when tapped by Democratic Party patriarch Dan O'Connell to run for district attorney, Greenberg was a little-known lawyer whose experience was in estate and trust work. Critics faulted Greenberg for not aggressively pursuing white-collar crime and shying away from political corruption cases. "Sol Greenberg has a special place in the hearts of the scores of lawyers who started their careers in his office," said attorney Michael McDermott, a former assistant district attorney who is now with the Albany firm of O'Connell & Aronowitz. Sol was slow to anger and quick to praise, qualities that created a perfect environment for young trial lawyers learning their craft. Defense attorney Steve Coffey was an assistant district attorney for Greenberg for a year in 1974, and remained good friends with his old boss for the next four decades. When he was discharged from active duty in January 1946, he checked on Harvard Law School, he said, and was told there was no opening in the January class and he'd have to wait until June.
Sol Greenberg, Longtime Albany County District Attorney Dies At 95
By Carol DeMare, Times Union
Thu, 04/20/2017 - 10:18pm
Sections: u.s.
Topics: New York Albany County Albany
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