William Joseph Nealon Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Joseph Nealon Jr.
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 1, 1989 – August 30, 2018 |
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| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1976–1989 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Henry Sheridan |
| Succeeded by | Richard Paul Conaboy |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office December 13, 1962 – January 1, 1989 |
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| Appointed by | John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | John W. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | James Focht McClure Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1923 Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 2018 (aged 95) Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Villanova University (B.S.) Columbus School of Law (LL.B.) |
William Joseph Nealon Jr. (July 31, 1923 – August 30, 2018) was a very important judge in the United States. He served as a federal judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He was the last judge appointed by President John F. Kennedy who was still serving. He was also one of the longest-serving federal judges ever. He worked for over 26 years as an active judge and nearly 56 years in total.
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Early Life and Education
William Joseph Nealon Jr. was born on July 31, 1923, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
After his military service, he went to college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University in 1947. Later, he studied law and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1950.
Career Before Becoming a Judge
From 1951 to 1960, William Nealon worked as a private lawyer in Scranton. He also taught at the University of Scranton from 1951 to 1959. For a few years, from 1955 to 1959, he worked for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. This board helps manage alcohol sales and rules in Pennsylvania.
Before becoming a federal judge, he served as a judge on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. This is a local court that handles many different types of legal cases. He held this position from 1960 to 1962.
Serving as a Federal Judge
On December 13, 1962, President John F. Kennedy chose William Nealon to be a judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. This was a special appointment made when Congress was not in session.
He was officially nominated on January 15, 1963. The United States Senate approved his appointment on March 15, 1963. He officially started his work as a federal judge on March 27, 1963.
Key Roles and Retirement
Judge Nealon served as the Chief Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1989. The Chief Judge is the main administrative judge for the court.
On January 1, 1989, he took on "senior status". This means a judge can reduce their workload but still hear cases. It allows them to continue serving without fully retiring. He passed away on August 30, 2018, in Scranton.
Honoring Judge Nealon
The federal building and courthouse in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is named after him. It is called the William J. Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse. This honor shows how important his work was.
See also
- List of United States federal judges by longevity of service
