Julius Helfand was an American politician and attorney who served as the assistant Brooklyn District Attorney in charge of organized crime prosecutions, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, and a New York state court judge.
17 Facts About Julius Helfand
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Julius Helfand graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1923 and was admitted to the bar in 1924.
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In 1934, Julius Helfand was elected to the New York State Assembly by 15 votes.
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Julius Helfand sponsored an amendment to the New York State tax law which prohibited educational institutions from denying admission to qualified applicants because of race, color, or creed.
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Julius Helfand was defeated in 1935 by Republican Robert J Crews.
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In 1937, Julius Helfand became a deputy assistant Brooklyn District Attorney.
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Julius Helfand was promoted to assistant district attorney in 1940 and was made the chief of the homicide division in 1946.
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Julius Helfand led an investigation into conditions on Brooklyn's waterfront, which led to convictions for payroll padding, usury, kickbacks, and theft of union funds.
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In 1953, Helfand ran for President of the New York City Council on the ticket of Mayor Vincent R Impellitteri.
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In 1955, Helfand was appointed chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission by Governor W Averell Harriman.
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Julius Helfand spent much of his first year in office investigating the Boxing Guild of New York, a boxing manager's guild.
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On December 12,1955, Julius Helfand outlawed the guild, accusing it of conspiring to blackballing fighters who were not in the good graces of its members, having monopolistic power over television contracts, associating with underworld figure Frankie Carbo, and requiring out-of-state managers to pay the guild to work in the state.
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Maryland Governor Theodore McKeldin sided with Julius Helfand and persuaded his state athletic commission to ban Gilzenberg and Sullivan.
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Julius Helfand remained on the commission until his term expired in 1960.
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In 1961, Julius Helfand was made a magistrate of the Brooklyn Felony Court.
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Julius Helfand retired from the bench on January 31,1972.
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Julius Helfand retired to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he died on August 17,1987, at the age of 83.