Charles Edward Clark
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Clark was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
from 1939 to 1963. A native of Connecticut
, Clark attended Yale College
and Yale Law School
. He became a law professor at Yale in 1919 and Dean of the Yale Law School in 1929, a position he held until 1939, when he was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
Clark served on the Second Circuit until his death in 1963, including service as Chief Judge
from 1954 to 1959. The Second Circuit during Clark's tenure was widely considered one of the best appellate courts in the country, including Judges Learned Hand, Augustus Hand
and Jerome Frank.
Before taking the bench, Clark served as chief drafter of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
, which were adopted in 1938. During his years as a judge, Clark often was regarded as an expert on the Rules but sometimes quarrelled with the other judges on his court (most especially Jerome Frank
), both behind the scenes and in his opinions, on the disposition of procedural issues.
Clark's extensive papers are archived at Yale University
and open to researchers.
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
from 1939 to 1963. A native of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Clark attended Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. He became a law professor at Yale in 1919 and Dean of the Yale Law School in 1929, a position he held until 1939, when he was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
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...
.
Clark served on the Second Circuit until his death in 1963, including service as Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 1954 to 1959. The Second Circuit during Clark's tenure was widely considered one of the best appellate courts in the country, including Judges Learned Hand, Augustus Hand
Augustus Noble Hand
Augustus Noble Hand was an American judge who served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and later on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His most notable rulings restricted the reach of obscenity statutes in the areas of literature and...
and Jerome Frank.
Before taking the bench, Clark served as chief drafter of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern civil procedure in United States district courts. The FRCP are promulgated by the United States Supreme Court pursuant to the Rules Enabling Act, and then the United States Congress has 7 months to veto the rules promulgated or they become part of the...
, which were adopted in 1938. During his years as a judge, Clark often was regarded as an expert on the Rules but sometimes quarrelled with the other judges on his court (most especially Jerome Frank
Jerome Frank
Jerome New Frank was a legal philosopher who played a leading role in the legal realism movement and a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.-Biography:...
), both behind the scenes and in his opinions, on the disposition of procedural issues.
Clark's extensive papers are archived at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and open to researchers.