Peter T. Fay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter T. Fay
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office January 19, 1994 – January 31, 2021
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office October 1, 1981 – January 19, 1994
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994
Succeeded by	Stanley Marcus
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office September 21, 1976 – October 1, 1981
Appointed by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	David W. Dyer
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office October 16, 1970 – October 8, 1976
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	William Hoeveler
Personal details
Born	Peter Thorp Fay (1929-01-18)January 18, 1929 Rochester, New York
Died	January 31, 2021(2021-01-31) (aged 92) Miami, Florida
Cause of death	Natural Causes
Education	Rollins College (BA) Fredric G. Levin College of Law (JD)

Peter Thorp Fay (born January 18, 1929 – died January 31, 2021) was a very important judge in the United States. He served as a federal judge for a long time. He was a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Before that, he was a United States district judge in Florida. When he passed away, he was one of only 26 federal judges who had served for 50 years!

Early Life and Education

Peter Thorp Fay was born in Rochester, New York, on January 18, 1929. He went to Rollins College and earned his first college degree in 1951. After college, he joined the United States Air Force. He served as a lieutenant from 1951 to 1953.

After his military service, he went to law school. He studied at the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. He earned his law degree in 1956.

Starting His Law Career

After finishing law school, Fay worked as a lawyer in Miami, Florida. He worked in private law firms from 1956 to 1970. This means he worked for companies that helped people with legal problems.

Becoming a Federal Judge

Peter Fay became a federal judge in 1970. This was a big step in his career.

District Court Judge

On October 7, 1970, President Richard Nixon chose Peter Fay to be a judge. He was nominated for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The United States Senate agreed with this choice on October 13, 1970. He officially became a judge a few days later.

As a district judge, he handled many different types of cases. In 1973, he gave a speech to other top judges. He talked about how state and federal judges could work together. He thought this could save time and resources. Fay served as a district judge until October 1976.

Appeals Court Judge

In 1976, President Gerald Ford nominated Fay for a higher court. He was chosen to be a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Senate approved his nomination in September 1976. He started his new role soon after.

In 1981, Peter Fay moved to a new court. He became a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. This change happened automatically due to a new law.

Senior Status

In 1994, Judge Fay took on "senior status." This means he could work a reduced schedule. However, he still continued to hear cases and do important work for the court.

Another judge, Paul Huck, once said that Judge Fay was very good at writing his decisions. He used "generous wording," even when he had to disagree with a lower court's ruling. Judge Fay also had a special way of making lawyers feel good about his decisions. This was true even if they lost their case.

In 2015, there was a report in The New York Times. It said that Jeb Bush, who later ran for president, wanted his father, President George H. W. Bush, to appoint Fay to the Supreme Court of the United States. Jeb Bush sent a letter about this in 1989.

Later Years and Legacy

Even after becoming a senior judge, Peter Fay did not want to retire completely. He loved his work.

In 2019, the St. Thomas University School of Law decided to rename their school in his honor. This showed how much they respected him. A few months before he passed away, he reached a special milestone. He became only the 26th federal judge to serve for 50 years.

The Eleventh Circuit court wrote about Judge Fay's amazing career. They said, "Few judges have served our country for so long and in such an honorable and distinguished manner." They also noted that he continued to do important work for the court and the people it served.

Personal Life

Peter Fay was married to his wife, Pat, for 62 years. They adopted three children together. He was also a talented athlete. In 1977, he was added to the Rollins College Sports Hall of Fame. He was recognized for his skills in water skiing, basketball, and football.

Judge Fay passed away on January 31, 2021, in South Miami-Dade. He was 92 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Peter T. Fay para niños

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service