Earl Eugene O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Earl Eugene O'Connor was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Paola, Kansas
, O'Connor was in the United States Army
during World War II
, from 1942 to 1946. He received a B.S.
from the University of Kansas
in 1948 and an LL.B. from the University of Kansas School of Law
in 1950. He was in private practice in Mission, Kansas
from 1950 to 1951, and was then an assistant county attorney of Johnson County, Kansas
from 1951 to 1953. He was a probate and juvenile court judge in Johnson County from 1953 to 1955, and then a district judge in Johnson County from 1955 to 1965. He served as a Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
from 1965 to 1971.
On October 19, 1971, O'Connor was nominated by President Richard Nixon
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
vacated by Arthur J. Stanley, Jr.. O'Connor was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 28, 1971, and received his commission on November 1, 1971. He served as chief judge from 1981 to 1992, assuming senior status
on March 1, 1992. O'Connor served in that capacity until his death, in 1998, in Mission, Kansas
.
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 Paola, Kansas
Paola, Kansas
Paola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,602.-History:...
, O'Connor was 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 1942 to 1946. He received 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 Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in 1948 and an LL.B. from the University of Kansas School of Law
University of Kansas School of Law
The University of Kansas School of Law is a public law school located on the main campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The University of Kansas Law School was founded in 1893, replacing the earlier Department of Law, which had existed since 1878. The school has more than 50...
in 1950. He was in private practice in Mission, Kansas
Mission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
from 1950 to 1951, and was then an assistant county attorney of Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
from 1951 to 1953. He was a probate and juvenile court judge in Johnson County from 1953 to 1955, and then a district judge in Johnson County from 1955 to 1965. He served as a Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
from 1965 to 1971.
On October 19, 1971, O'Connor was nominated by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Kansas. The Court operates out of the Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, and the United States Courthouse...
vacated by Arthur J. Stanley, Jr.. O'Connor 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 28, 1971, and received his commission on November 1, 1971. He served as chief judge from 1981 to 1992, assuming 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 March 1, 1992. O'Connor served in that capacity until his death, in 1998, in Mission, Kansas
Mission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
.