Thomas Francis Croake

Thomas Francis Croake (January 22, 1902 – July 21, 1978) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Saranac Lake, New York, Croake received an LL.B. from Albany Law School in 1925. He was an acting city judge of Plattsburgh, New York from 1926 to 1927. He was corporation counsel for Plattsburgh from 1928 to 1932. He was a judge of Clinton County, New York from 1932 to 1938.

Croake later resided in White Plains, New York, and continued to practice law. He was a vice president of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and president of the Westchester County Bar Association. He also served on the White Plains Board of Tax Appeals and the board of St. Agnes Hospital.

On September 14, 1961, Croake was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York created by 75 Stat. 80. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 21, 1961, and received his commission on September 22, 1961. He assumed senior status on January 31, 1972. Croake served in that capacity until his death, in 1978, in White Plains, New York.

Croake was survived by his wife, the former Marian Peck. They were the parents of three children: Margaret Cherico of White Plains; Mary Ann Ryan of Columbus, Ohio; and Michael of Cincinnati.

Sources

• Thomas Francis Croake at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.