John Milton Bryan Simpson
Encyclopedia
John Milton Bryan Simpson (May 30, 1903–August 22, 1987) was an American lawyer
and judge
.
Simpson was born in Kissimmee, Florida
, in 1903. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with an LL.B. in 1926.
Simpson was in private practice
in Jacksonville
from 1926 to 1946, serving as assistant state's attorney
for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
from 1933 to 1939. He was judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County
from 1939 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1946, serving in the U.S. Army
as a first lieutenant
from 1943 to 1945. Simpson served as a judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1946 to 1950.
President
Harry S. Truman
nominated Simpson to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
on September 14, 1950, to the seat vacated by Louie W. Strum. Confirmed
by the Senate
on September 23, 1950, he received commission
on September 26, 1950. Simpson served as chief judge
from 1961 to 1962. Simpson was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
on October 29, 1962, serving as chief judge from 1962 to 1966. He was noted for his legal decisions during the civil rights demonstrations in St. Augustine, Florida
that led directly to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964
.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
nominated Simpson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
on October 11, 1966, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. Confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966, he received his commission on November 3, 1966.
Simpson assumed senior status
on June 30, 1975. He was reassigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
on October 1, 1981. He remained on the court until his death in 1987.
The John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
in Jacksonville in named in his honor.
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...
.
Simpson was born in Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
, in 1903. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with an LL.B. in 1926.
Simpson was in private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
from 1926 to 1946, serving as assistant state's attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
from 1933 to 1939. He was judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
from 1939 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1946, serving in the U.S. 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...
as a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
from 1943 to 1945. Simpson served as a judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1946 to 1950.
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....
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
nominated Simpson to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
on September 14, 1950, to the seat vacated by Louie W. Strum. Confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the 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 September 23, 1950, he received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
on September 26, 1950. Simpson served as chief judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 1961 to 1962. Simpson was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida serves the residents of thirty-five counties from eight courthouses....
on October 29, 1962, serving as chief judge from 1962 to 1966. He was noted for his legal decisions during the civil rights demonstrations in St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
that led directly to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
nominated Simpson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
on October 11, 1966, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. Confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966, he received his commission on November 3, 1966.
Simpson 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 June 30, 1975. He was reassigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
on October 1, 1981. He remained on the court until his death in 1987.
The John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
The Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse is a courthouse and U.S. federal government facility in Jacksonville, Florida. It houses:*The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, and corresponding offices of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the...
in Jacksonville in named in his honor.
Sources
- David Colburn, Racial Change and Community Crisis, Columbia University Press.
- William Kunstler, Deep in My Heart
- Taylor Branch, Pillar of Fire
- Andrew Young, An Easy Burden
- Dan R. Warren, If It Takes All Summer, University of Alabama Press, 2008.
External links
- A Guide to the Judge John Milton Bryan Simpson Papers, 1933-1983 - University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
George A. Smathers LibrariesGeorge A. Smathers LibrariesThe University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries, is one of the largest university library systems in the United States. The system includes eight of the nine libraries of the University of Florida and provides primary support to all academic programs except those served by the Lawton...
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