Early life and education

Born in Superior, Wisconsin

Superior, Wisconsin

Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...

, Van Sickle 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 Wisconsin in 1965 and a J.D.

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...

 from the University of Washington School of Law

University of Washington School of Law

The University of Washington School of Law is the law school of the University of Washington, located on the northwest corner of the main campus in Seattle, Washington.The most recent 2012 U.S...

 in 1968.

Career

Van Sickle 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...

, JAG Corps, from 1968 to 1970. He was a Prosecuting attorney of Douglas County, Washington from 1971 to 1975, also working in private practice during that time.

Judicial service

Van Sickle was a judge on the Superior Court for Grant and Douglas Counties from 1975 to 1979, and for Chelan and Douglas Counties from 1979 to 1992.

On March 21, 1991, Van Sickle was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln,...

 created by 104 Stat. 5089. 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 May 9, 1991, and received his commission on May 14, 1991. He served as chief judge from 2000 to 2005, and 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 May 1, 2008.

Sources