Ralph M. Freeman
Encyclopedia
Ralph McKenzie Freeman was a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Judge Freeman was nominated by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on May 10, 1954, to a newly-created seat and was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 8, 1954. He received his commission on June 10, 1954. Freeman served as chief judge from 1967 to 1972 and assumed senior status
on July 1, 1973. He served in that capacity and continued to carry a full caseload until his death at the age of 87.
Judge Freeman was educated at the University of Michigan
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
fraternity and earned his LL.B. degree in 1926 from the University of Michigan Law School
.
Freeman was a prosecuting attorney in Genesee County, Michigan
from 1928 to 1932 and was in private practice in Flint, Michigan
prior to his appointment to the federal bench in 1954.
Freeman served on the Flint Board of Education
from 1935-1949 and was its president for four years. The Ralph M. Freeman Elementary School in Flint was named in his honor.
He was married to Emmalyn Ellis in 1938 and the Freemans had no children. Judge and Mrs. Freeman established a number of scholarship funds at various Michigan schools and a law library for federal judges is named in Ralph Freeman's memory.
Judge Freeman was nominated by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on May 10, 1954, to a newly-created seat and 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 June 8, 1954. He received his commission on June 10, 1954. Freeman served as chief judge from 1967 to 1972 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 July 1, 1973. He served in that capacity and continued to carry a full caseload until his death at the age of 87.
Judge Freeman was educated at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
fraternity and earned his LL.B. degree in 1926 from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
.
Freeman was a prosecuting attorney in Genesee County, Michigan
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
from 1928 to 1932 and was in private practice in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
prior to his appointment to the federal bench in 1954.
Freeman served on the Flint Board of Education
Flint Community Schools
Flint Community Schools is a school district headquartered in Flint, Michigan, United States, with the mission of developing a community of learners who are prepared to live, work, and contribute to an ever changing society. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the Flint Community School District...
from 1935-1949 and was its president for four years. The Ralph M. Freeman Elementary School in Flint was named in his honor.
He was married to Emmalyn Ellis in 1938 and the Freemans had no children. Judge and Mrs. Freeman established a number of scholarship funds at various Michigan schools and a law library for federal judges is named in Ralph Freeman's memory.