Leland Clure Morton
Encyclopedia
Leland Clure Morton was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee
, Morton received a B.A.
from the University of Tennessee
in 1934 and a J.D.
from the University of Tennessee College of Law
in 1936. He was in private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
from 1937 to 1941. He was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
in Washington, D.C.
, from 1941 to 1945, thereafter returning to private practice in Knoxville, from 1946 to 1970.
On September 21, 1970, Morton was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
vacated by William E. Miller
. Morton was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 8, 1970, and received his commission on October 14, 1970. He served as chief judge from 1977 to 1984, assuming senior status
on July 31, 1984, and serving in that capacity until his death, in 1998, in Knoxville.
In 1996, the L. Clure Morton United States Post Office and Courthouse in Cookeville, Tennessee
, was renamed in his honor.
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 Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, Morton 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...
from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in 1934 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 Tennessee College of Law
University of Tennessee College of Law
The University of Tennessee College of Law is the law school of the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1890, the school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.-The Law Center and the...
in 1936. He was in private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
from 1937 to 1941. He was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from 1941 to 1945, thereafter returning to private practice in Knoxville, from 1946 to 1970.
On September 21, 1970, Morton was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee is the federal trial court for most of Middle Tennessee. Based in Nashville, it was created in 1839 when Congress added a third district to the state...
vacated by William E. Miller
William E. Miller
William Edward "Bill" Miller was a New York politician. He was the Republican Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 1964 election...
. Morton 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 8, 1970, and received his commission on October 14, 1970. He served as chief judge from 1977 to 1984, 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 July 31, 1984, and serving in that capacity until his death, in 1998, in Knoxville.
In 1996, the L. Clure Morton United States Post Office and Courthouse in Cookeville, Tennessee
Cookeville, Tennessee
Cookeville is a city in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 23,923 at the 2000 census. of Cookeville's population was 30,435, and the combined total of those living in Cookeville's in 2010 was 65,014. It is the county seat of Putnam County and home to Tennessee...
, was renamed in his honor.