Justice William Holohan |
Justice Robert Corcoran |
ARIZONA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF TWO RETIRED JUSTICES
The Arizona Supreme Court is mourning the loss of Retired Chief Justice William A. Holohan, 82, who passed away on Friday, July 23, 2010 and Justice Robert J. Corcoran, 76, who passed away Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
“The Arizona legal community has suffered two significant losses this past week. We are saddened by their passing,” said Chief Justice Rebecca Berch. “Justice Holohan served on the Arizona Supreme Court honorably for seventeen years, including five years as its Chief Justice. He was regarded as a tough but fair judge and a wonderful contributor to the legal community. He was revered for his sense of humor and his down-to-earth style.”
“Ironically,” Chief Justice Berch noted, “Justice Corcoran took Justice Holohan’s place on the Supreme Court when Justice Holohan retired. Justice Corcoran brought a valuable perspective to the court, having served as a judge on the Maricopa County Superior Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. He often commented that he regarded his service to the Supreme Court as the pinnacle of his career. He was known as a passionate advocate for professionalism in the bar. We will miss both of these dedicated public servants tremendously. Our hearts go out to their families.”
Retired Chief Justice Holohan served on the Arizona Supreme Court for seventeen years, from 1972 to 1989. He was Chief Justice from 1982 to 1987.
Justice Holohan was born in Tucson in 1928. He attended the University of Arizona and was admitted to the practice of law in Arizona in 1950. He was drafted that same year to the US Army and served as a Judge Advocate General during the Korean War. He was an Assistant US Attorney from 1953 to 1960 and became a Superior Court Judge in 1963. Justice Holohan was then appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court in 1972.
Retired Justice Corcoran was appointed to serve as an Arizona Supreme Court Justice after the retirement of Justice Holohan in 1987. Before being appointed on Arizona’s highest court, Justice Corcoran received his law degree from Fordham University in New York City. He came to Arizona in 1959 to join the law firm of Lewis and Roca. He joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor in 1962 but returned to private practice in 1964, where he remained until his appointment as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge in 1976. From 1981 to 1988, Justice Corcoran was a judge for the Court of Appeals of Arizona. He served on the Arizona Supreme Court until 1996.
In honor of Justice Holohan and his love for his Irish heritage, a wake will be held on August 14, 2010 to celebrate his life. The location and time will be announced later.
Services have not yet been announced for Justice Corcoran.