Charles B. Fulton
Encyclopedia
Charles Britton Fulton was a lawyer and United States federal judge
.
Born in Fallon, Nevada
, he worked his way through college at the University of Florida
and completed his law degree
there in 1935. He immediately set up his private law practice in West Palm Beach, Florida
, and was named Florida's assistant state attorney general
in 1942. That same year, however, his career was interrupted when he left to serve as an aviator in the United States Navy
during World War II
.
Upon his return to the states in 1946, he re-established his private practice and made a name for himself as one of the most prominent lawyers in Florida. From 1950 to 1963 he acted as general counsel
for the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Palm Beach District. In 1961, he served as president of the Florida Bar Association
.
On April 4, 1963, President John F. Kennedy
nominated Fulton to fill a new seat on the Federal bench. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 24, 1963, and received his commission on April 26. He served as the chief judge
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
from 1966 to 1977, and assumed senior status upon his retirement on June 30, 1978.
He died on May 15, 1996 in West Palm Beach.
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
.
Born in Fallon, Nevada
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
, he worked his way through college at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and completed his law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
there in 1935. He immediately set up his private law practice in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, and was named Florida's assistant state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 1942. That same year, however, his career was interrupted when he left to serve as an aviator in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Upon his return to the states in 1946, he re-established his private practice and made a name for himself as one of the most prominent lawyers in Florida. From 1950 to 1963 he acted as general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Palm Beach District. In 1961, he served as president of the Florida Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
.
On April 4, 1963, 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....
nominated Fulton to fill a new seat on the Federal bench. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 24, 1963, and received his commission on April 26. He served as the chief judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
from 1966 to 1977, and assumed senior status upon his retirement on June 30, 1978.
He died on May 15, 1996 in West Palm Beach.