Odell Horton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Odell Horton
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| In office May 16, 1995 – February 22, 2006 |
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| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| In office 1987–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Malcolm McRae Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Julia Smith Gibbons |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| In office May 12, 1980 – May 16, 1995 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Bailey Brown |
| Succeeded by | Bernice B. Donald |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Odell Horton
May 13, 1929 Bolivar, Tennessee |
| Died | February 22, 2006 (aged 76) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Howard University School of Law (LLB) |
Odell Horton (May 13, 1929 – February 22, 2006) was an important United States federal judge. He served on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Judge Horton dedicated his life to public service and the legal system.
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Early Life and Education
Odell Horton was born in Bolivar, Tennessee. He joined the United States Marine Corps twice, serving from 1946 to 1947 and again from 1951 to 1953.
After his military service, he went to college. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College in 1951. Later, he studied law and received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Howard University School of Law in 1956.
A Career in Public Service
After finishing law school, Odell Horton began his career. He worked as a private lawyer in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1957 to 1962. He then became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. In this role, he helped represent the U.S. government in legal cases.
Horton held many important positions. He was a judge for the Shelby County Criminal Court. He also served as the president of LeMoyne–Owen College, a historic college in Memphis. During this time, he even appeared on TV as a commentator. Before becoming a federal judge, he also served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter chose Odell Horton to become a federal judge. He was nominated to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The United States Senate approved his nomination, and he officially became a judge on May 12, 1980.
Judge Horton served as the Chief Judge for his court from 1987 to 1994. The Chief Judge helps manage the court and its cases. In 1995, he took on "senior status" as a judge. This means he continued to work but with a reduced caseload. He served in this role until he passed away on February 22, 2006, in Memphis.
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Odell Horton
See also
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Tennessee
