At 88, judge reflects on career
This Gus isn’t necessarily the second-most-famous judge in Pennsylvania. But Gustave Diamond has been in the limelight.
Serving U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Diamond presided over the infamous baseball cocaine scandal in 1985. About two dozen major-league players, including six Pirates or former Pirates, were implicated along with the Pirate Parrot right there in the City of Three Rivers – where many of the drug transactions occurred.
Limelight? Diamond and everyone in his courtroom were awash in the klieg lights of national attention 32 years ago.
“We had journalists from all over the country, about 100 of them,” the judge recalled. “We had to set up about half the courtroom for them. Pittsburgh was very prominent at the time.”
Ultimately, 11 players were suspended but allowed to play as long as they submitted to fines, community service and random drug testing.
That was Diamond’s most visible case, but only one among hundreds in a legal career dating to the Eisenhower administration.
At the end of the workday tomorrow, 61 years and 11 presidents later, Gustave Diamond’s legal eagle days will be over. The Burgettstown native and longtime Peters Township resident will retire as a senior district judge. He will turn 89 Sunday and turn his full-time attention to wife, Emma, house upkeep and community service.
“I never thought about it,” Diamond said of retirement. “When you’re at this stage, you’re sort of ambivalent about leaving.
“Thank goodness I have good health. I don’t have the same memory, but it’s still pretty good. As I told one of the judges, who joked that I was too young: ‘I want to retire before I make a mistake they can’t fix in appellate court.'”
That was one of several bon mots Diamond offered up during a breezy telephone interview last week from his Grant Street office. He was insightful throughout, his wit and recollection as sharp as the business end of a guillotine.
Diamond was a federal judge for nearly 39 years, appointed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1978. He became chief judge for the Western District in July 1992, and assumed senior judge status 19 months later, taking only criminal cases.
Those four decades were probably the apex of his career, and a significant period of an active life. Out of high school, Diamond served in the Navy post-World War II (1946-48) before securing bachelor’s and law degrees, respectively, from Duke University (1951) and Duquesne University (1956). He was admitted to the bar in 1958, during a five-year stint as a law clerk with U.S. District Judge Rabe Marsh Jr.
Diamond’s career began to sparkle in 1961, when he became an assistant U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh, then first assistant … then U.S. attorney (1963-69). He left that position to practice law in Washington and Pittsburgh for nine years, until the Carter appointment.
Law is not impervious to change, and Diamond said there has been a shift in the course of court cases over the past half-century.
“When I was the U.S. attorney, the main cases were bank robberies,” he said. “(Surveillance) cameras were starting to be used in the ’60s, but were not always effective. Today, bank robbery is not a profitable thing. Money explodes, you get your picture taken and you get five years.
“Today, the main thing is substance abuse cases. Abuses of cocaine, heroin and oxycodone take up the majority of the docket. There’s some income tax evasion, possession of weapons by convicted felons and those who shouldn’t have them. There’s enough to keep everyone busy on the criminal side.”
Because he’s no longer involved, Diamond declined to elaborate on civil cases.
As criminal chief of the U.S. attorney’s office in Pittsburgh, Steve Kaufman has had numerous dealings with Diamond. He considers the judge a jewel.
“He has been a wonderful federal judge, equally admired by both prosecuting and defense attorneys,” Kaufman said. “He loves to engage with attorneys over fine points of law. Everyone in the federal court family hates to see him retire, but everyone appreciates him.
“What a great career. To actively hear cases for as long as he has is incredible. He’s 88 and could pass for 73.”
Further proof of Diamond’s endurance is his two younger brothers preceded him into retirement – Stan, a former Observer-Reporter photographer from South Strabane Township, and Nick of Texas. A sister died years ago.
Now the soon-to-be-erstwhile judge will be at home more often with Emma, his spouse of 43 years. They have a son, a stepdaughter and a grandson. And that house.
“Eventually,” Diamond said, “I’ll probably do some volunteer work to stay busy and make a contribution.”
He admits he has had doubts about this decision, leaving a profession to which he has been inextricably entwined for almost three generations. But he is now at ease with that.
“I hope I can handle this,” Diamond said. “A judge who retired earlier told me I will be able to handle it.”
Even outside a courtroom, Gustave Diamond should continue to be a gem.