Duffy was an avid Democratic Party member and held a series of political posts before and after his period on the bench. He was a member of the City of Rochester, New York School Board from 1905 to 1932, and a member of the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from 1933 to 1934.
Congress He was elected to Congress in 1934, having defeated incumbent
Republican James L. Whitley and represented
New York's 38th congressional district from January 3, 1935, until January 3, 1937, departing due to his defeat for renomination in 1936.
Later career and interests He was then appointed by
Governor Lehman to the
New York Supreme Court on April 20, 1937, and served until December 31, 1937. He was defeated by Nathan Lapham in the subsequent election and served until December 31, 1937. Duffy practiced law in partnership from 1938 onward, and sat on the New York State Probation Commission from 1938 to 1944. During the course of his life, Duffy was ubiquitous in the
Rochester, New York, region. He was a founder and for fifty-two years Director of Family Services of Rochester, fifty-two years a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce, thirty-four years a counsel to the local
Red Cross, forty-two years a Trustee of the Community Chest, thirty-four years a Commissioner of the Rochester Museum, thirty-four years a Trustee of the Rochester Savings Bank, thirty-two years a Director and one year President of the local Automobile Club, fifty-two years a Trustee of St. Patrick's Church and three years a functionary of the
United Service Organization. He was a member of nine different clubs and brotherhoods. He received numerous honors during the course of his life, most notable his designation as a
Knight of St. Gregory and a
Knight of Malta by
Pope Pius XI. One report indicated that he went to Mass every day, carried a missal at all times, and meticulously recorded in all his diaries. In addition, Congressman Duffy's sister Constance Josephine married Bishop
Thomas Francis Hickey's brother Jeremiah Griffin. == Death ==