Theodore R. Newman Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theodore R. Newman Jr.
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| Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals | |
| In office 1991–2016 |
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| Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals | |
| In office October 26, 1976 – October 2, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Gerard D. Reilly |
| Succeeded by | William C. Pryor |
| Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals | |
| In office 1976–1991 |
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| Nominated by | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Gerard D. Reilly |
| Succeeded by | Warren R. King |
| Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1970–1976 |
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| Nominated by | Richard Nixon |
| Succeeded by | Gladys Kessler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1934 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 2023 (aged 88) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Spouse | Constance B. Newman (Divorced) |
| Alma mater | Brown University (BA) Harvard Law School (JD) |
Theodore R. Newman Jr. (born July 5, 1934 – died January 6, 2023) was a very important judge in the United States. He worked at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He made history as the first African American chief judge of this court.
Contents
About Judge Newman
Early Life and Education
Theodore R. Newman Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama. His father was a Methodist minister, and his mother was a schoolteacher.
He attended the Mount Hermon School for Boys in Massachusetts. He finished there in 1951. After high school, he went to Brown University. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1955. Then, he studied law at Harvard Law School. He got his law degree in 1958.
A Career in Law
After law school, Newman joined the United States Air Force. He worked as a judge advocate in France for three years. This means he was a lawyer for the military.
When he returned to the United States, he moved to Washington, D.C.. He worked for the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. This division helps protect people's rights. After that, he worked at a private law firm.
Becoming a Judge
In 1970, Newman became a judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. This was an important step in his career.
In 1976, he was chosen to be a judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals. This court handles appeals from lower courts. At the same time, he was named the new chief judge of the court. This was a huge moment! He became the first African American chief judge of any state-level court system in the U.S. At that time, there were very few African American judges on state appeals courts.
In 1979, a famous magazine called Ebony recognized his importance. They named him one of the one hundred most influential African Americans.
Later Years and Retirement
Judge Newman served two terms as chief judge. He did not seek to be chief judge again after 1984. In 1991, he took "senior status." This means he worked part-time. He finally retired from the court in 2016.
Theodore R. Newman Jr. passed away on January 6, 2023. He was 88 years old. His work as a judge opened doors for many others.
