Joseph Sam Perry
Encyclopedia
Joseph Samuel Perry was a federal judge
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
.
, Perry was the son of a coal miner. He worked on local farms and in area coal mines before joining the U.S. Navy and serving in Europe during World War I
. After the war, he returned home to finish high school. Perry then earned a bachelor's degree Phi Beta Kappa in 1923 from the University of Alabama
and a master's degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
in 1925. He earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1927.
from 1928 until 1933, when he began working as a master in chancery in DuPage County, Illinois and as a private lawyer in Wheaton, Illinois
. In 1937, Perry was elected as a Democratic state representative to the Illinois general assembly, where he represented the state's 41st senatorial district from 1937 until 1943 and where he was a floor leader for Illinois' Gov. Henry Horner. In 1943, Perry returned to private law practice in Wheaton. After World War II, Perry was unsuccessful in efforts to be elected as a state senator and a congressman, largely because he was a Democrat in heavily Republican DuPage County. Perry remained a lawyer in Wheaton until he became a federal judge in 1951. Perry also worked from 1949 until 1951 as DuPage County's public administrator.
nominated Perry to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
. The United States Senate
confirmed Perry's nomination on August 21, 1951.
During his tenure, Perry presided over a large number of high-profile trials, including an 18-month-long wrongful-death suit initiated by the survivors and family members of two members of the Black Panther Party
who were killed during a 1969 raid on the group's headquarters. At the end of the trial, which at that time was the longest trial before a federal court jury in U.S. history, Perry dismissed all charges against law enforcement officials who had been sued for $47 million in a wrongful-death suit when jurors could not reach a verdict. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
eventually overturned Perry and ordered a new trial, but an out-of-court settlement eventually was reached.
Perry took senior status
on November 29, 1971.
when Erb found a large, 42-inch bone. The bone was taken to a geologist at Wheaton College
in nearby Wheaton, Illinois
, who judged it to be the fossilized bone of a prehistoric mastodon
that became extinct more than 8,000 years ago. Diggers uncovered more bones, and Perry then gave Wheaton College permission to excavate the site. Geologists eventually found more than 100 of the mastodon's 211 bones, including the complete skull with well-preserved teeth. Geologists eventually reassembled the mastodon skeleton, and it is now on display at Wheaton College's Armerding Hall.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
purchased much of Perry's 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) estate in 1995 for $312,500.
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....
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
.
Early life and education
Born in Carbon Hill, AlabamaCarbon Hill, Alabama
Carbon Hill is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,071.-Geography:Carbon Hill was begun as a small mining town in extreme western Walker County. The city is located at ....
, Perry was the son of a coal miner. He worked on local farms and in area coal mines before joining the U.S. Navy and serving in Europe during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, he returned home to finish high school. Perry then earned a bachelor's degree Phi Beta Kappa in 1923 from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and a master's degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
The School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago is one of the world's leading schools for the training of social workers and researchers in social welfare scholarship, ranking 3rd...
in 1925. He earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1927.
Professional career
Perry worked in private law practice in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1928 until 1933, when he began working as a master in chancery in DuPage County, Illinois and as a private lawyer in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
. In 1937, Perry was elected as a Democratic state representative to the Illinois general assembly, where he represented the state's 41st senatorial district from 1937 until 1943 and where he was a floor leader for Illinois' Gov. Henry Horner. In 1943, Perry returned to private law practice in Wheaton. After World War II, Perry was unsuccessful in efforts to be elected as a state senator and a congressman, largely because he was a Democrat in heavily Republican DuPage County. Perry remained a lawyer in Wheaton until he became a federal judge in 1951. Perry also worked from 1949 until 1951 as DuPage County's public administrator.
Federal judicial service
On July 13, 1951, President Harry S. TrumanHarry 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 Perry to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
. 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...
confirmed Perry's nomination on August 21, 1951.
During his tenure, Perry presided over a large number of high-profile trials, including an 18-month-long wrongful-death suit initiated by the survivors and family members of two members of the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
who were killed during a 1969 raid on the group's headquarters. At the end of the trial, which at that time was the longest trial before a federal court jury in U.S. history, Perry dismissed all charges against law enforcement officials who had been sued for $47 million in a wrongful-death suit when jurors could not reach a verdict. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
eventually overturned Perry and ordered a new trial, but an out-of-court settlement eventually was reached.
Perry took 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 November 29, 1971.
Mastodon discovery
On October 16, 1963, a man named Marshall Erb (1910-1989) was excavating a pond in the back yard of Perry's house, at 683 Riford Road in Glen Ellyn, IllinoisGlen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the village population was 26,999.-Geography:...
when Erb found a large, 42-inch bone. The bone was taken to a geologist at Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in nearby Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, who judged it to be the fossilized bone of a prehistoric mastodon
Mastodon
Mastodons were large tusked mammal species of the extinct genus Mammut which inhabited Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Central America from the Oligocene through Pleistocene, 33.9 mya to 11,000 years ago. The American mastodon is the most recent and best known species of the group...
that became extinct more than 8,000 years ago. Diggers uncovered more bones, and Perry then gave Wheaton College permission to excavate the site. Geologists eventually found more than 100 of the mastodon's 211 bones, including the complete skull with well-preserved teeth. Geologists eventually reassembled the mastodon skeleton, and it is now on display at Wheaton College's Armerding Hall.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a governmental agency headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois. Its mission is to acquire and hold lands containing forests, prairies, wetlands, and associated plant communities or lands capable of being restored to such natural conditions for the purpose...
purchased much of Perry's 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) estate in 1995 for $312,500.