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Michael M. Palmisano died at age 95 after a long career that included nearly two years as an Erie County judge.

Throughout his career, Palmisano served as district attorney, chief public defender and judge, and friends and colleagues said he earned respect for his professionalism and commitment to justice.

Even after retirement, Palmisano was called upon to investigate sensitive matters, including the sexual misconduct allegations against William P. Garvey, then the president of Mercyhurst College.

The assignment would have been momentous for most any jurist. Michael M. Palmisano got it only two weeks after he started as a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas.

On April 27, 1998, Palmisano was assigned to preside over the case of Andrew J. Wurst. The 14-ye

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