Richard Lowell Nygaard
Encyclopedia
Richard Lowell Nygaard is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota
, Nygaard received a B.S.
cum laude from the University of Southern California
in 1969 and a J.D.
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1971. He was a Petty Officer Second Class in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1958 to 1964. He was in private practice in North East, Pennsylvania
from 1972 to 1980. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Sixth District of Pennsylvania, Erie, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1988.
Nygaard is a Senior Federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
. Judge Nygaard was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on May 25, 1988, to a seat vacated when Joseph Francis Weis, Jr. assumed Senior Status. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 14, 1988, and received his commission on October 17, 1988. He assumed senior status
on July 9, 2005.
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 Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...
, Nygaard received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
cum laude from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1969 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 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...
in 1971. He was a Petty Officer Second Class in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1958 to 1964. He was in private practice in North East, Pennsylvania
North East, Pennsylvania
North East is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Erie. Fruit growing was an early economic endeavor, and is still to this day, as this is a popular area for especially cherries and grapes. There is an annual Cherry Festival in the summer and an annual in the fall. It contains...
from 1972 to 1980. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Sixth District of Pennsylvania, Erie, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1988.
Nygaard is a Senior Federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
. Judge Nygaard was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on May 25, 1988, to a seat vacated when Joseph Francis Weis, Jr. assumed Senior Status. He 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 14, 1988, and received his commission on October 17, 1988. He 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 9, 2005.