Bruce Rutherford Thompson
Encyclopedia
Bruce Rutherford Thompson (July 31, 1911 – February 10, 1992) was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Reno, Nevada
, Thompson received an A.B.
from the University of Nevada
in 1932 and an LL.B. from Stanford Law School
in 1936. He was in private practice in Reno, Nevada
from 1936 to 1963, and was then an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Nevada from 1942 to 1952. He was a Special Master, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada from 1952 to 1954.
On July 9, 1963, Thompson was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
vacated by John R. Ross
. Thompson was confirmed by the United States Senate
on August 6, 1963, and received his commission on August 16, 1963. He assumed senior status
on August 31, 1978, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1992. The Bruce R. Thompson United States Courthouse in Reno was named for him.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Thompson received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
in 1932 and an LL.B. from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 1936. He was in private practice in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
from 1936 to 1963, and was then an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Nevada from 1942 to 1952. He was a Special Master, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada from 1952 to 1954.
On July 9, 1963, Thompson was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
United States District Court for the District of Nevada
The United States District Court for the District of Nevada is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Nevada. The court has locations in Las Vegas and Reno....
vacated by John R. Ross
John R. Ross
John Robert "Haj" Ross is a linguist who played a part in the development of generative semantics along with George Lakoff, James D. McCawley, and Paul Postal...
. Thompson was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on August 6, 1963, and received his commission on August 16, 1963. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on August 31, 1978, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1992. The Bruce R. Thompson United States Courthouse in Reno was named for him.