NORMAN A MORDUE INTERVIEW

Join us for an inspiring interview with the Hon. Norman A. Mordue as he reflects on his extraordinary journey from a Syracuse University football scholarship to a distinguished career on the federal bench. Judge Mordue shares his path through the legal system, starting as a prosecutor before serving as a county court judge, a State Supreme Court Judge, and ultimately being appointed as a U.S. District Judge by President Clinton. In this conversation, Judge Mordue opens up about how his military service profoundly shaped his life and career. He recounts the critical lessons he learned while making split-second decisions in combat, explaining how the pressures of leading a platoon and managing extractions translated into the maturity and decisiveness required in the courtroom. He also looks back fondly on his time at Syracuse Law, highlighting the impactful, hands-on teaching of Professor Travis Lewin. The interview concludes with Judge Mordue's heartfelt reaction to being recognized by his peers with a prestigious law honors award, a moment he reflects on with deep gratitude and dedication to the memory of his parents. Norman A. Mordue, Syracuse University, Syracuse Law, federal judge, military veteran, legal career, Travis Lewin, law honors award *0:01 - 0:29:* "My name is Norm Mordue. Born and raised in Elmira, New York. Came to Syracuse on a football scholarship. Went in the service, got wounded, and came back, went to law school at Syracuse. Worked as a prosecutor for 10 years. In my tenth year I was now eligible to run for judge. And a judgeship opened up on county court and I ran for it in a contested race and was elected." *0:30 - 1:07:* "That was for a 10 year term. Three years later I ran in '82, I served '83, '84, and in '85 I got cross-endorsed by all four parties for State Supreme Court Judge. So I took that job, and I did that for 13 years. And then in 1998, Senator Al D'Amato chose me and recommended me to President Clinton to be appointed. And I was the fastest district judge to ever get through the nomination in the Clinton administration." *1:08 - 1:34:* "There is one professor who I, I just loved to pieces. His name was Travis Lewin. And he taught criminal law, criminal procedure, law and insanity. I took every course he taught. He would bring actual psychiatrists in, give you a moot problem. And you cross-examine real psychiatrists." *1:35 - 2:20:* "I think the main thing I learned was how to allocate your time. They want you to have your platoon to point A by such and such a time to get extracted and then be inserted into a say a hot landing zone, LZ. How are you going to get up this mountain the quickest way because they're coming say to pick you up at 1 o'clock. And going into a firefight, you got to make quick decisions. You got to be able to grasp it quick, know what's important, know what's not. Those kind of decisions, it made me mature really quickly." *2:20 - 2:49:* "It's an incredible thing to be told your peers, your associates, and the people that have known you over these years have picked you for this award. I had no idea it was coming. I couldn't have known it was coming. But it's a prestigious award. I'm so proud of it. I wish my mom and dad were still here to see this. Yeah."