Bolitha James Laws
Encyclopedia
Bolitha James Laws was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Washington, D.C.
, Laws received an LL.B. from Georgetown University Law School in 1913, and an LL.M. from the same institution in 1914. He was an assistant United States Attorney
for the District of Columbia from 1914 to 1920. He was in private practice in New York City
from 1920 to 1921, and was a litigation counsel and assistant general counsel to the United States Shipping Board
, Emergency Fleet Corporation from 1921 to 1922. He then returned to private practice in Washington, D.C., from 1922 to 1938.
On June 10, 1938, Laws was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
, created by 52 Stat. 584. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 16, 1938, and received his commission on June 24, 1938. On January 19, 1945, Roosevelt nominated Laws for elevation to Chief Justice of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the seat having been vacated by Edward C. Eicher
. Laws was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 22, 1945, and received his commission on February 23, 1945. In the fall of 1945 he was the judge in the trial of Ezra Pound
. Laws served in that capacity until September 1, 1948, when the court was reorganized, eliminating the chief justice position. Laws was reassigned by operation of law to a regular judgeship on the court, but served thereafter as chief judge of the court until his death, in 1958.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Laws received an LL.B. from Georgetown University Law School in 1913, and an LL.M. from the same institution in 1914. He was an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Columbia from 1914 to 1920. He was in private practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1920 to 1921, and was a litigation counsel and assistant general counsel to the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
, Emergency Fleet Corporation from 1921 to 1922. He then returned to private practice in Washington, D.C., from 1922 to 1938.
On June 10, 1938, Laws was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
, created by 52 Stat. 584. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 16, 1938, and received his commission on June 24, 1938. On January 19, 1945, Roosevelt nominated Laws for elevation to Chief Justice of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the seat having been vacated by Edward C. Eicher
Edward C. Eicher
Edward C. Eicher was a three-term congressman, federal securities regulator, and federal district court judge during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was considered a consummate "New Deal" liberal....
. Laws was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 22, 1945, and received his commission on February 23, 1945. In the fall of 1945 he was the judge in the trial of Ezra Pound
Ezra Pound
Ezra Weston Loomis Pound was an American expatriate poet and critic and a major figure in the early modernist movement in poetry...
. Laws served in that capacity until September 1, 1948, when the court was reorganized, eliminating the chief justice position. Laws was reassigned by operation of law to a regular judgeship on the court, but served thereafter as chief judge of the court until his death, in 1958.