Retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Palermo, the longest-serving magistrate in the Southern District of Florida and one of the first ever appointed in the country, died Friday at 97.

Palermo died at his Kendall home after a fall last week. A memorial service for the legal community will be held at 12:10 p.m. Dec. 11 at Gesu Church in Miami.

Palermo was in private practice when he became one of first two men to be appointed magistrates in the United States in 1971. He worked until about two years ago, according to U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer in Fort Lauderdale. He still attended Federal Bar Association functions and banquets, and the court maintained his chambers until his death.