James Martin Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
James Martin Fitzgerald (October 7, 1920 - April 3, 2011) was an American lawyer
and judge
. He served as an associate justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
from 1972 to 1975, and resigned that position when he was appointed to a judgeship of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska
, remaining in that position until his retirement in 2006.
Born on October 7, 1920 in Portland, Oregon
, Fitzgerald served in World War II
as a U.S. Army Private, 1940-1941 and a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, 1942-1946. He attended Willamette University
where he received a B.A.
in 1950, followed by an LL.B. from Willamette University College of Law
in 1951. Later, he went on to serve as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Alaska, 1952-1956, City Attorney, Anchorage, Alaska
, 1956-1959 legal counsel to the Governor of Alaska, 1959, and state commissioner of public safety, Alaska, 1959.
Fitzgerald served as a Judge of the Alaska Superior Court, Third District, from 1959 to 1972, serving as Presiding Judge from 1969-1972. He became a Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
in 1972, serving in that office until 1975.
On December 2, 1974, Fitzgerald was nominated by President Gerald Ford
to be a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska
, to a seat vacated by Raymond Eugene Plummer
. Fitzgerald was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 18, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1984 to 1989 and assumed senior status
on January 1, 1989.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He served as an associate justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
from 1972 to 1975, and resigned that position when he was appointed to a judgeship of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska
United States District Court for the District of Alaska
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Alaska. Offices are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Nome...
, remaining in that position until his retirement in 2006.
Born on October 7, 1920 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Fitzgerald served in 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...
as a U.S. Army Private, 1940-1941 and a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, 1942-1946. He attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
where he 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...
in 1950, followed by an LL.B. from Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in 1951. Later, he went on to serve as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Alaska, 1952-1956, City Attorney, Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, 1956-1959 legal counsel to the Governor of Alaska, 1959, and state commissioner of public safety, Alaska, 1959.
Fitzgerald served as a Judge of the Alaska Superior Court, Third District, from 1959 to 1972, serving as Presiding Judge from 1969-1972. He became a Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
in 1972, serving in that office until 1975.
On December 2, 1974, Fitzgerald was nominated by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
to be a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska
United States District Court for the District of Alaska
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Alaska. Offices are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Nome...
, to a seat vacated by Raymond Eugene Plummer
Raymond Eugene Plummer
Raymond Eugene Plummer was an American lawyer and judge.Plummer was born in 1913 in Harlan, Iowa. He attended the University of Nebraska were he graduated with a B.A. in 1927 and a LL.B. in 1939. He went into private practice in Dallas, Texas 1939-1940 and Lincoln, Nebraska 1940-1944. Later, he...
. Fitzgerald 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 December 18, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1984 to 1989 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 January 1, 1989.
External links
- Willamette Lawyer Fall 2004 issue of the Willamette LawyerWillamette University College of LawWillamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
magazine, in which numerous Alaskans are profiled, including Fitzgerald.