Thomas J. Michie
Encyclopedia
Thomas Johnson Michie was a Virginia lawyer and federal judge
.
.
Michie attended the University of Virginia
and the University of Virginia Law School, receiving an A.B. degree in 1917, an A.M. in 1920, and an LL.B. in 1921. He served in the United States Army
from 1917 to 1919.
He worked as an in-house counsel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
from 1921 to 1942, then rejoined the army for the years 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Air Corps.
from 1946 to 1961. The law firm he founded continues in existence. In those same years he lectured at the University of Virginia Law School. He was mayor of Charlottesville from 1957 to 1960. As mayor, Michie counseled the white citizens of Charlottesville to accept desegregation "as good citizens should." Michie was "a strong, strong leader in trying to work out an acceptable pattern of integration."
on May 11, 1961, to a seat vacated by Roby C. Thompson
, on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
. The United States Senate
confirmed his nomination on June 27, 1961. Michie was the third Charlottesville area lawyer to sit on that court, preceded by Alexander Rives
and Armistead Mason Dobie
.
In 1963, Judge Michie began the tradition of conducting naturalization ceremonies at Monticello
on Independence Day
. Michie was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, owner of Monticello
.
Along with his colleagues, including Judges Ted Dalton
and John Paul, Judge Michie implemented the decision of the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education
in Western Virginia. In 1961, Judge Michie ordered the admission of black students to the high school in Lynchburg, Virginia
. In 1965, Judge Michie ruled that the school board of Giles County, Virginia
violated the Fourteenth Amendment by the dismissal of all of its African-American teachers in the course of integrating its school system.
In connection with the civil rights demonstrations in Danville, Virginia
in 1963, Judge Michie chose to abstain from exercising jurisdiction over a petition filed by William Kunstler
to obtain a federal court injunction against the criminal prosecution of the demonstrators.
Michie assumed senior status
on November 6, 1967. Because of indecision by Virginia Democrats, President Lyndon B. Johnson
failed to nominate a successor, and instead the choice of Michie's successor fell to the next president, Richard Nixon
, who nominated H. Emory Widener, Jr.
on June 19, 1969.
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....
.
Family, education, and early career
Michie was the son and nephew of the founders of The Michie Company, a lawbook publisher based in Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
Michie attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and the University of Virginia Law School, receiving an A.B. degree in 1917, an A.M. in 1920, and an LL.B. in 1921. He served in the United States 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...
from 1917 to 1919.
He worked as an in-house counsel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
from 1921 to 1942, then rejoined the army for the years 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Air Corps.
Citizen lawyer
Michie engaged in the private practice of law in Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
from 1946 to 1961. The law firm he founded continues in existence. In those same years he lectured at the University of Virginia Law School. He was mayor of Charlottesville from 1957 to 1960. As mayor, Michie counseled the white citizens of Charlottesville to accept desegregation "as good citizens should." Michie was "a strong, strong leader in trying to work out an acceptable pattern of integration."
Judgeship
Michie was nominated by President John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on May 11, 1961, to a seat vacated by Roby C. Thompson
Roby C. Thompson
Roby Calvin Thompson was a Virginia lawyer and federal judge. He was born in Saltville, Virginia.Thompson graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, receiving his LL.B...
, on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
. 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 his nomination on June 27, 1961. Michie was the third Charlottesville area lawyer to sit on that court, preceded by Alexander Rives
Alexander Rives
Alexander Rives was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and federal judge.-Family and politics:Rives was born in Nelson County, Virginia. He attended Hampden-Sydney College from 1821 to 1825 when he graduated; and the University of Virginia, graduating in 1828. He was admitted to the bar and began...
and Armistead Mason Dobie
Armistead Mason Dobie
Armistead Mason Dobie was a law professor and United States federal judge.-University leader:A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dobie received a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1901, an M.A. from the same institution in 1902, and an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1904....
.
In 1963, Judge Michie began the tradition of conducting naturalization ceremonies at Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
on Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
. Michie was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, owner of Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
.
Along with his colleagues, including Judges Ted Dalton
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton
Theodore Roosevelt Dalton American lawyer,judge and politician known as "Ted" and as Virginia's "Mr. Republican".- Family :...
and John Paul, Judge Michie implemented the decision of the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
in Western Virginia. In 1961, Judge Michie ordered the admission of black students to the high school in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. In 1965, Judge Michie ruled that the school board of Giles County, Virginia
Giles County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
violated the Fourteenth Amendment by the dismissal of all of its African-American teachers in the course of integrating its school system.
In connection with the civil rights demonstrations in Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
in 1963, Judge Michie chose to abstain from exercising jurisdiction over a petition filed by William Kunstler
William Kunstler
William Moses Kunstler was an American self-described "radical lawyer" and civil rights activist, known for his controversial clients...
to obtain a federal court injunction against the criminal prosecution of the demonstrators.
Michie 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 November 6, 1967. Because of indecision by Virginia Democrats, 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...
failed to nominate a successor, and instead the choice of Michie's successor fell to the next president, Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, who nominated H. Emory Widener, Jr.
H. Emory Widener, Jr.
Hiram Emory Widener Jr. was a United States federal judge and then a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.-Early life and career:...
on June 19, 1969.