Charles E. Wiggins
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Wiggins was a U.S. Representative
from California
, and later a United States federal judge
.
He was initially elected to California's 25th congressional district
. The district was renumbered as California's 39th congressional district
prior to the 1974 election.
, Wiggins attended the public schools in El Monte. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army
during World War II
, from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1950 to 1952, thereafter receiving a B.S.
from the University of Southern California
in 1953 and an LL.B. from the University of Southern California Law School
in 1956. He was a law clerk
to Judge Swain of the Appellate Division, Los Angeles Superior Court. Wiggins then served as a member of the El Monte, California
, Planning Commission from 1954 to 1960, entering private practice in El Monte in 1957. He was an El Monte Councilman from 1960 to 1964, and mayor of El Monte from 1964 to 1966.
Wiggins was elected as a Republican
to the Ninetieth
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1967-January 3, 1979). He was a fierce defender of Richard M. Nixon until the latter's resignation from the Presidency; Wiggins dropped his support after the revelation of the so-called "Smoking Gun" tape. Wiggins's advocacy for Nixon almost cost him reelection in 1974. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-sixth
Congress in 1978, instead returning to private practice in Los Angeles, California
from 1979 to 1982, in Washington, D.C.
from 1982 to 1984, and in San Francisco, California
in 1984.
On August 1, 1984, Wiggins was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
to a new seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
created by 98 Stat. 333. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 3, 1984, and received his commission on October 11, 1984. Wiggins assumed senior status
on December 31, 1996, serving in that capacity until his death.
Wiggins died on March 2, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada
, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and later a United States federal judge
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....
.
He was initially elected to California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers part of Los Angeles County and extends out to broad stretches of interior California along the Nevada border. It includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and the...
. The district was renumbered as California's 39th congressional district
California's 39th congressional district
California's 39th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district covers part of southeastern Los Angeles County and includes Lynwood, Cerritos, Lakewood, La Mirada, and Whittier....
prior to the 1974 election.
Biography
Born in El Monte, CaliforniaEl Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
, Wiggins attended the public schools in El Monte. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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...
, from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1950 to 1952, thereafter receiving a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1953 and an LL.B. from the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
in 1956. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Judge Swain of the Appellate Division, Los Angeles Superior Court. Wiggins then served as a member of the El Monte, California
El Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
, Planning Commission from 1954 to 1960, entering private practice in El Monte in 1957. He was an El Monte Councilman from 1960 to 1964, and mayor of El Monte from 1964 to 1966.
Wiggins was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Ninetieth
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1967-January 3, 1979). He was a fierce defender of Richard M. Nixon until the latter's resignation from the Presidency; Wiggins dropped his support after the revelation of the so-called "Smoking Gun" tape. Wiggins's advocacy for Nixon almost cost him reelection in 1974. He was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-sixth
96th United States Congress
The Ninety-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1981, during the last two years...
Congress in 1978, instead returning to private practice in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
from 1979 to 1982, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1982 to 1984, and in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1984.
On August 1, 1984, Wiggins was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to a new seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
created by 98 Stat. 333. He 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 October 3, 1984, and received his commission on October 11, 1984. Wiggins 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 December 31, 1996, serving in that capacity until his death.
Wiggins died on March 2, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.