Biography

Senator John A. DeFrancisco

John A. DeFrancisco was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1992. He was reelected by substantial margins in each of his following races.

Senator DeFrancisco has been a strong supporter of the initiatives that have helped move New York State closer to its former prominence. He has worked with his Senate Republican colleagues on legislation which helped to reduce crime, reform welfare, lead the nation in cutting taxes and creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and make government more transparent. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator DeFrancisco has advocated for reform in how candidates for New York State Supreme Court Justice are nominated, as well as how town and village courts can be improved.

Senator DeFrancisco has also demonstrated his commitment to issues raised by his constituents. He has fought to protect property owners by seeking laws that limit the use of eminent domain. He has worked tirelessly to retain and create good jobs by: helping keep the doors to the Hutchings Psychiatric Center open when it was scheduled for closure; advancing the Central New York Biotechnology Research Center and the Syracuse Center for Excellence in Environmental Systems; and fighting to have the New York State Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Center built in Syracuse. Senator DeFrancisco was also instrumental in establishing Casey's Place, a state of the art, one of a kind, respite home in Onondaga County for children with severe multiple medical disabilities.

In 2006, Senator DeFrancisco sponsored the Bill Leaf-Brandi Woods bill which increased penalties for certain vehicular crimes committed by those previously convicted of an alcohol or drug related driving while intoxicated or driving while ability impaired charge. The Senator shepherded "The Craig J. Todeschini" bill through the Senate which, since it was enacted, provides for increased penalties for drivers who flee police officers. Both bills were named after Central New Yorkers who lost their lives in 2006. Senator DeFrancisco also led the charge to strengthen New York State's Freedom of Information Law and preserve the public's right to know. His legislation became law and put teeth in the enforcement of the FOIL law.

Among Senator DeFrancisco's major accomplishments are: in 1998, Senator DeFrancisco played a leading role in the adoption of Jenna's Law; he was the Senate sponsor of legislation that provided for the Amber Alert System in New York State. In addition, Senator DeFrancisco has been in the forefront of the reform movement, dating back to 1995 when he first introduced an on-time budget bill. Senator DeFrancisco also wrote and then introduced legislation that was one of the first Rockefeller Drug Law Reform bills introduced in the Senate. In 2004, he was a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Rockefeller Drug Law Reform where he worked to reach an agreement which resulted in passage of the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform bill in December 2004.

Prior to his time in the Senate, he served 11 years on the Syracuse Common Council, first as Councilor-at-Large and later as Council President.

A community leader and education advocate, Senator DeFrancisco is also a former member and President of the Syracuse City School District Board of Education and a past Vice President of the Conference of Large City Boards of Education. His contributions to local organizations are numerous. Most notably, he served two terms as President of the Central New York Leukemia Society and was a member of the National Board of Trustees of the organization. He also was a Charter Member of the Board of Trustees and first President of the Central New York Combined Health Appeal.

A lifetime resident of Syracuse, Senator DeFrancisco attended Christian Brothers Academy. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University's College of Engineering in 1968. While at SU, Senator DeFrancisco was Captain of the varsity baseball team and President of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers. Moreover, he received the Eastern College Athletic Conference and Syracuse University Manley Scholar athletic awards his senior year. He was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity.

Senator DeFrancisco received his Juris Doctor degree from Duke University in 1971. While at Duke, he was a member of Duke Law Journal's Editorial Board, and graduated in the top 10% of his class.

Senator DeFrancisco was admitted to practice law in New York in 1972 and in Florida in 1973. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, and before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senator was an associate with Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett law firm in New York City before serving as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1975. After his military service he was appointed Assistant District Attorney in Onondaga County, a position he held from 1975 until 1977.

From 1978 to 1990, Senator DeFrancisco was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Syracuse University College of Law.

Senator DeFrancisco has been in the private practice of law since 1977 and practices with the DeFrancisco Law Firm in Syracuse. He and his wife, Linda, have three grown children, five grandchildren, and reside in Syracuse.