Edward Devitt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Circa 1950. Collections of the U.S. House of Representatives. | |
| Judge of theUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court | |
| In office January 11, 1985 – March 2, 1992 | |
| Appointed by | Warren Burger |
| Preceded by | Dudley Baldwin Bonsal |
| Succeeded by | Earl H. Carroll |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota | |
| In office May 1, 1981 – March 2, 1992 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota | |
| In office 1959–1981 | |
| Preceded by | Gunnar Nordbye |
| Succeeded by | Miles Lord |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota | |
| In office December 10, 1954 – May 1, 1981 | |
| Appointed by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Matthew M. Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Paul A. Magnuson |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Starkey |
| Succeeded by | Eugene McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward James Devitt (1911-05-05)May 5, 1911 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 1992(1992-03-02) (aged 80) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Resting place | Resurrection Cemetery,Mendota Heights, Minnesota |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of North Dakota (B.S.) University of North Dakota School of Law (LL.B.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Edward James Devitt (May 5, 1911 – March 2, 1992) was aU.S. representative fromMinnesota and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Born inSaint Paul, Minnesota, Devitt graduated fromSaint John's Preparatory School inCollegeville in 1930. He attendedSaint John's University from 1930 to 1932 before receiving aBachelor of Laws from theUniversity of North Dakota School of Law in 1935, and aBachelor of Science degree from theUniversity of North Dakota in 1938. Devitt was in private practice inEast Grand Forks from 1935 to 1939, serving at the same time as a municipal judge of the Minnesota Municipal Court in East Grand Forks. He was an assistant state attorney general of Minnesota from 1939 to 1942. He served in theUnited States Naval Reserve duringWorld War II as a Lieutenant Commander from 1942 to 1946.[1]
Devitt was elected as aRepublican to the80th Congress (January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949) fromMinnesota's 4th congressional district. He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1948, being defeated byEugene McCarthy, who would later serve as aU.S. Senator and run for president. Devitt is the most recent Republican to have represented this district. Following his departure from Congress, he returned to private practice in Saint Paul from 1949 to 1950. He then served as a Judge of the Minnesota Probate Court forRamsey County from 1950 to 1954.[2]
On December 10, 1954, Devitt received arecess appointment from PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota vacated by JudgeMatthew M. Joyce. Formally nominated to the same seat by President Eisenhower on January 10, 1955, Devitt was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on February 4, 1955, and received his commission on February 7, 1955. He served as Chief Judge from 1959 to 1981, assumingsenior status on May 1, 1981. In 1979, Devitt presided over the criminal trial for the fiveRed Lake Indian Reservation uprising defendants, imposing a 26-year prison sentence on uprising leader Harry S. Hanson Jr.[3] Devitt would also impose prison sentences ranging from 10 to 16 years against Hanson's four co-defendants.[3] He served as a board member of theFederal Judicial Center from 1968 to 1971. He served as a judge of theUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 1985 to 1992. Devitt remained in senior status until his death in Saint Paul on March 2, 1992.[1]
TheAmerican Judicature Society has awarded the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award each year since 1983 to anArticle III judge.[citation needed] The first recipient wasAlbert Branson Maris.[citation needed]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United StatesRepresentative fromMinnesota's 4th congressional district 1947–1949 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota 1955–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota 1959–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court 1985–1992 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
