Whistleblower Long Island Judge Remembered For Corruption Fight

LONG ISLAND, NY — A former Long Island justice who championed the fight against corruption in Suffolk County during the 90s, exposing improperly handled criminal cases and becoming the first judge to blow the whistle from the bench, died Nov. 30 at the age of 89.

The Brooklyn native, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War then worked his way through law school at night, was a renaissance man, later building "a sterling reputation as a masterful trial attorney with a specialization in criminal defense before being elected in 1975 to the New York state bench, his son, Gary Namm said in a phone interview on Monday.

Namm, who settled in Stony Brook, served 17 years on the bench, and in that time, saw abuses of criminal procedure law — improper evidence and forced confessions — to secure quick convictions, but rather than turn a blind eye as he had been told, he exposed it by calling on two consecutive state governors — Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo — to probe the allegations when he did not get any action on the matter locally, Gary recalled.

"He was the very first person who had the guts to not turn his eyes — as he was directed to do," Gary said.

In the end, Namm's allegations were proved and a number of people resigned.

His father's call for action ignited years of "a greatly-needed clean-up in Suffolk," but it cost him his renomination to office, he said, adding that when he was told that he would not be renominated by his law partner, and then Suffolk County Democratic chairman, Dominic Barranello, the man was heartbroken, Gary said.

"To the day he died, it still broke his heart," he added.

It remains to this day that judges are cross-endorsed by the opposing in what many call a sweetheart deal, but there have been calls for the practice to end.

It not only cost him his office, but his right to a full state pension, in which only three years were left to the 20-year requirement.

"It not only had an emotional impact, but a financial impact," Gary said.

Namm had his life threatened before he was forced out and even later, said Gary. Stuart Namm was not only ostracized by police, but prosecutors at the District Attorney's office, and some in the law profession, Gary said.

His mother, Lenore, who was a court mediator, had her career cut short when the two accelerated their retirement to North Carolina.

"It was never my Dad's intention to be involved with anything like this," Gary said. "He just wanted to be a judge. He just wanted to live his dream. But he did something that was rare, at least at that time."

"Would people do that?" he continued, asking, "And take their oath of office ultimately, seriously, and raise their right hand? He knew what that meant."

Namm's accounts of what he witnessed ended up being published in 2014 in his highly-acclaimed book, "The Perverted Pursuit of Justice in the State of New York." When he moved to Hampstead, North Carolina, in 1994, Namm was the creator and producer of several original documentaries, including "Men of Truth and Courage in a Forgotten War: The 17th Infantry Regiment in Korea," and "The Serial Killers."

But perhaps the one he is most known for, "A Question of Guilt," focused on the murder conviction of Martin Tankleff and drew more attention to his case, which was eventually thrown out.

Upon the news of Namm's death, Tankleff, like others, posted tributes online.

Tankleff, now an attorney who advocates for those believed to be wrongfully convicted, shared several posts featuring stories about Namm.

He could not be immediately reached for comment.

In a post to Facebook, Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone wrote that the county "lost an exemplar of integrity and justice."

Namm "helped identify" former District Attorney Thomas Spota’s "corruption years before he was ultimately exposed and sent to federal prison," Bellone said.

"Judge Namm’s example of integrity, courage and his commitment to justice exemplifies the ideal of what we should expect from our crucial third branch of government," Bellone wrote. "His story also provides a compelling case for the need to reform the judicial selection process in the state of New York."

Bellone presented Namm with the county's Distinguished Public Service Award at a Judicial Reform conference in June 2021 to recognize his significant contribution to the furtherance of justice in Suffolk.

But Namm's contributions could not be summed up in one area of his life.

Namm's nicknames did include "Stu," "The Judge," and "Mensch on the Bench," but his most cherished names were grandpa and dad, according to family.

He was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on Oct. 17, 1933, to Lillian Kramer Namm and Paul Namm. He was a star Lacrosse player, and was passionate in the arts while attending The City College of New York.

He fell in love with his teenage sweetheart, Lenore Rhona Abelson, and married her in 1954. Drafted into the U.S. Army, he was in the Special Forces Ranger Program, where he served 20 months as a first lieutenant in Korea.

Upon his return to the states, Namm began The Brooklyn Law School Night Program while he was working full-time for Equitable Life, and then the Federal Trade Commission as an attorney examiner in Manhattan.

Stuart moved east to Long Island and opened his law practice in Stony Brook before joining the firm of Baranello, Block, and Namm in Centereach.

Namm was also a naturalist, gifted photographer, and world adventurer on six continents. He was committed to staying fit, he was a lifelong competitive athlete who won national Senior Games awards at ages 72 and 73 in tennis, swimming, and cycling.

One of Tankleff's posts highlighted Namm's later achievements, as he shared a story about Namm's cycling.

One of the little-known facts about Namm is that he loved Broadway, Gary recalled, adding that any money the family could spare was spent on attending a musical on the great white way.

At 72, he taught himself how to tap dance to honor his wife, Lenore, and one of his winning performances can be seen on YouTube as a tribute to James Cagney and the composer George M. Cohan, Gary said.

"It will blow your mind, and you will cry — that's how touching it is," Gary said. "That's one of my Dad's winning performances. I know I am very proud, but these are the facts ... This is a man — I told you at the beginning — who is a renaissance man in many ways. He had the arts. He was an athlete. He was committed to the practice of law."

Namm was an incredible family man, Gary said.

In addition to his participation in the senior games, Stuart received many honors during his lifetime, but most notably, he was the first national recipient of The American Bar Association’s Justice Thurgood Marshall Award in recognition of long-term contributions to the advancement of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights in our nation. Stuart is an honorary lifetime member of the NAACP and the recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s David Michaels Memorial Award for promoting integrity in the criminal court system.

He is predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Lenore, who died in 1996.

He is survived by Nancy Namm, his wife of 26 years of Hampstead; as well as three children, including Gary Namm of Tampa, Florida; Keith Namm of Charleston, South Carolina; and Suzanne Wolonick and her husband, Richard, of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

He has the blessing of six grandchildren, including Rachel Correia and her husband, Kevin, of Milford, New Hampshire; David Namm and his wife, Annalise, of Irvine, California; Joshua Wolonick of Los Angeles; Jason Wolonick and his wife, Leila of Durham, North Carolina; Julia Namm of New York, New York; and Rebecca Parker and her husband, Logan, of Apopka, Florida.

He had four great-grandchildren.

Namm is survived by two siblings, including Sandra Rosen Hurwitz of Plantation, Florida, and Dr. Joel Namm and his wife, Joanne, of Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Namm’s funeral services will be announced at a later date.

In 2012, he was first diagnosed with cancer, but went on to beat it with the help of the University of North Carolina Cancer Center.

Namm was also a prolific writer who felt his story had to be told.

"Thankfully, he beat it," Gary said. "That got him inspired."