Dickinson Richards Debevoise
Encyclopedia
Dickinson Richards Debevoise (born 1924 in Orange, New Jersey
) is a U.S. Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
.
on February 23, 1978 and confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 31, 1979. Judge Debevoise served on the committee that revised the general (i.e., local) rules of the district court in 1984. He has been on senior status effective May 1, 1994. Judge Debevoise's chambers are located in the Martin Luther King, Jr. U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey
.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Debevoise was in private practice in Newark, New Jersey
from 1953 to 1979. He was formerly a partner in the firm now known as Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP. He is a graduate of Williams College
(Class of 1946) and Columbia Law School
(Class of 1951). He began his legal career as a law clerk
to U.S. District Judge Phillip Forman
.
Judge Debovoise presided over the arraignment
of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski
in 1996.
Judge Debevoise served as a Sergeant in the United States Army
during World War II
, where he participated in D-Day
, the Battle of the Bulge
, and occupation of Berlin. He later went on to serve as a lieutenant during the Korean War
. He is married and has four daughters.
After 29 years on the Court, Judge Debevoise has approximately 60 former law clerks, including Stuart Rabner
, current Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
, former New Jersey Attorney General
and former counsel to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
and Peter C. Harvey
who was the first African American
to serve as New Jersey Attorney General
(2003–2006)
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
) is a U.S. Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
.
Biography
Debevoise was nominated by President Jimmy CarterJimmy 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...
on February 23, 1978 and 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 31, 1979. Judge Debevoise served on the committee that revised the general (i.e., local) rules of the district court in 1984. He has been on senior status effective May 1, 1994. Judge Debevoise's chambers are located in the Martin Luther King, Jr. U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Debevoise was in private practice in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
from 1953 to 1979. He was formerly a partner in the firm now known as Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP. He is a graduate of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(Class of 1946) and 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...
(Class of 1951). He began his legal career as 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 U.S. District Judge Phillip Forman
Phillip Forman
Phillip Forman was an American lawyer and judge.-Early life and career:Forman was born into a Jewish family on November 30, 1895, in New York City. He served in the United States Navy during World War I and received his LL.B...
.
Judge Debovoise presided over the arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski
Theodore Kaczynski
Theodore John "Ted" Kaczynski , also known as the "Unabomber" , is an American mathematician, social critic, anarcho-primitivist, and Neo-Luddite who engaged in a mail bombing campaign that spanned nearly 20 years, killing three people and injuring 23 others.Kaczynski was born in Chicago, Illinois,...
in 1996.
Judge Debevoise served as a Sergeant 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...
, where he participated in D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, and occupation of Berlin. He later went on to serve as a lieutenant during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He is married and has four daughters.
After 29 years on the Court, Judge Debevoise has approximately 60 former law clerks, including Stuart Rabner
Stuart Rabner
Stuart Jeff Rabner is the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He has previously served as New Jersey Attorney General, Chief Counsel to Governor Jon Corzine, and as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.-Biography:Rabner grew up in Passaic,...
, current Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
, former New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
and former counsel to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
and Peter C. Harvey
Peter C. Harvey
Peter C. Harvey was the first African American to serve as New Jersey Attorney General. Harvey was appointed by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey as Acting Attorney General on February 15, 2003, and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate as Attorney General on June 16, 2003...
who was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve as New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
(2003–2006)