Charles Proctor Sifton
Encyclopedia
Charles Proctor Sifton was a United States federal judge
.
Born in New York, New York, Sifton received a B.A.
from Harvard College
in 1957 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
in 1961. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Göttingen in Göttingen
, Germany
from 1957 to 1958. Sifton worked as an attorney in private practice in New York City
in 1961-62 and as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 1962 to 1964. He returned to private practice from 1964 to 1966, and again from 1969 to 1977. From 1966 to 1969, Sifton served as an Assistant United States Attorney
for the Southern District of New York.
On August 16, 1977, President
Jimmy Carter
nominated Sifton to a seat on the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of New York
that had been vacated by John F. Dooling, Jr.. Sifton was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 12, 1977 and took office the same day.
During his more than 30 years on the bench, he issued thousands of decisions in both civil and criminal cases.
A few of his most publicized cases are listed below:
He served as Chief Judge from 1995 to 2000, assuming senior status on March 18, 2000.
Judge Sifton died from sarcoidosis
on the morning of November 9, 2009.
Judge Sifton’s first marriage was to Elisabeth Sifton, a prominent book editor and author who is the daughter of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr
. He is survived by his son Sam Sifton, the restaurant critic of The New York Times Sam Sifton
, by his wife, the artist Susan Rowland; two other sons, Toby and John; and three grandchildren.
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 New York, New York, Sifton received a B.A.
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 Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1957 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1961. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Göttingen in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
from 1957 to 1958. Sifton worked as an attorney in private practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1961-62 and as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 1962 to 1964. He returned to private practice from 1964 to 1966, and again from 1969 to 1977. From 1966 to 1969, Sifton served as an Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Southern District of New York.
On August 16, 1977, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Sifton to a seat on the United States District Court
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...
for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the entirety of Long Island and Staten Island...
that had been vacated by John F. Dooling, Jr.. Sifton 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 12, 1977 and took office the same day.
During his more than 30 years on the bench, he issued thousands of decisions in both civil and criminal cases.
A few of his most publicized cases are listed below:
- In a 1982 opinion, Sifton held that the New York City firefighter eligibility test discriminated against female applicants. See Brenda Berkman, et al. v. The City of New York, CV-79-1813, 536 F. Supp. 177 (E.D.N.Y. 1982), aff’d Berkman v. City of New York, 705 F.2d 584 (2d Cir. 1983). The case resulted in the first female firefighters being permitted to join the NYPD.
- In an 1987 case, Judge Sifton found for the Lubavitch congregation in their suit against the grandson of the late Rebbe Joseph I. Schneersohn to recover a collection of books from the Rebbe's library. See Agudas Chasidei Chabad v. Gourary, CV-85-2909, 650 F. Supp. 1463 (E.D.N.Y. 1987), aff’d 833 F.2d 431 (2d Cir. 1987). The Lubavitch community continue to celebrate the favorable decision in an annual holiday named "Hey Teves," meaning the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Teves, the Hebrew date on which the opinion was issued (corresponding to Jan. 6, 1987).
- In another well known case, in 1992, Sifton found illegal the United States' seizure of RU-486 abortion pills that a pregnant woman had bought in France. The Supreme Court reversed his decision, but the publicity helped build support for the drug’s U.S. approval in 2000. See Leona Benten v. David Kessler, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, CV-92-3161, 799 F. Supp. 281 (E.D.N.Y. 1992), order stayed by USCA No. 92-6170., aff’d, 505 U.S. 1084, 112 S.Ct. 2929 (1992).
- In 2009, Sifton rejected an attempt to overturn the legislation that cleared the way for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and most other city elected officials to seek a third term.
He served as Chief Judge from 1995 to 2000, assuming senior status on March 18, 2000.
Judge Sifton died from sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis , also called sarcoid, Besnier-Boeck disease or Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease, is a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells form as nodules in multiple organs. The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown...
on the morning of November 9, 2009.
Judge Sifton’s first marriage was to Elisabeth Sifton, a prominent book editor and author who is the daughter of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr
Reinhold Niebuhr
Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian and commentator on public affairs. Starting as a leftist minister in the 1920s indebted to theological liberalism, he shifted to the new Neo-Orthodox theology in the 1930s, explaining how the sin of pride created evil in the world...
. He is survived by his son Sam Sifton, the restaurant critic of The New York Times Sam Sifton
Sam Sifton
Sam Sifton is an American journalist working for the New York Times. Sifton's posts at the Times have included deputy dining editor ; dining editor ; deputy culture editor and culture editor .....
, by his wife, the artist Susan Rowland; two other sons, Toby and John; and three grandchildren.