Giovanni Falcone
Content created by Virtual Intern Stevia Ndoe
In 1991, one of his most important accomplishments was establishing the witness protection program. The program served as a turning point in combating the Italian Mafia and still functions in Italy today. During his time in Palermo, Falcone played a fundamental role in Palermo’s Maxi Trial, a significant criminal trial in Sicily that ran from 1986 to 1987, and that resulted in hundreds of convictions for Mafia-related crimes. Falcone immersed himself in the world of anti-Mafia law and accepted a position in the Ministry of Justice in Rome in 1991. In 1992, after several previous attempts, Falcone, his wife, and three bodyguards were assassinated by the Mafia while driving from the Palermo airport into the city.
Falcone was posthumously recognized as an extraordinary hero of conscience for his lifelong work fighting the Mafia in Italy. Giovanni Falcone was a tenacious fighter for justice and he personally credited the International Visitor Leadership Program as an important component for some of his key accomplishments.
Judge Falcone is commemorated each year in Palermo by his family and friends who have formed the Fondazione Falcone.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams