Charles Robert Richey
Encyclopedia
Charles Robert Richey was a United States federal judge
. When fairly new to the federal bench, he presided over the civil case related to Watergate and embroiled himself in controversy for his communications with the Nixon Administration and the judicial decisions that followed.
, Richey was in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II
. He received an A.B.
from Ohio Wesleyan University
in 1945 and an LL.B. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law
in 1948. He was a legislative counsel to U.S. Representative Frances P. Bolton
from 1948 to 1949. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C.
and Chevy Chase, Maryland
from 1949 to 1971, also working as a speech and debate coach for American University
from 1954 to 1955. He was special counsel to Montgomery County, Maryland
, on Council Redistricting from 1965 to 1966, and was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Appeals, Maryland from 1965 to 1967, serving as chairman from 1966 to 1967. He was general counsel to the Maryland Public Service Commission
from 1967 to 1971.
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
vacated by Edward Matthew Curran
. Richey was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 29, 1971, and received his commission on May 5, 1971.
Between the Watergate break-in and the run-up to the presidential election of 1972, Richey presided over the civil case brought by the Democratic National Committee
seeking monetary damages from the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, given the derisive short-hand of "CREEP". His administration-friendly rulings seemed designed to delay the case until after the election and drove many interested parties, not the least of which was the Washington Post, to a state of near apoplexy. Many suspected and it was later confirmed that Richey was in communication with the Nixon White House. In his book about Watergate and his personal role, John Dean
related that "the case looked under control" and that Judge Richey had been "sending encouraging signals through our contacts". In fact, the Judge "had been so accommodating as to urge Stans
to file a counter-suit against O’Brien
for libel".
During this time, Joseph Califano was representing both the DNC and the Washington Post and, as he relates in his own memoirs, was increasingly astonished at Richey's unorthodox behavior behind the bench. When Richey asked all parties to join in a press release announcing that all legal activity would be postponed until after the election, Califano refused, and claimed that "Richey was furious". This episode was witnessed by a veteran criminal attorney, Harold Ungar, who told Califano, "Joe, in my thirty years of practice, I've never seen anything like this. Never! Pacing in circles, he mumbled over again, 'Never, never, never'".
In addition to his judicial activities, Richey was an Adjunct professor, Georgetown University Law Center from 1975 to 1997. Richey assumed senior status
on January 23, 1997, and served in that capacity until his death later that year in Washington, D.C.
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....
. When fairly new to the federal bench, he presided over the civil case related to Watergate and embroiled himself in controversy for his communications with the Nixon Administration and the judicial decisions that followed.
Early life, education, and career
Born in Logan County, OhioLogan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, Richey was in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
in 1945 and an LL.B. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Case Western Reserve University Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law is the law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. It opened in 1892, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country. It was one of the first schools accredited by the American Bar Association and was...
in 1948. He was a legislative counsel to U.S. Representative Frances P. Bolton
Frances P. Bolton
Frances Payne Bolton , born Frances P. Bingham, was a Republican politician from Ohio. She served in the United States House of Representatives. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Ohio. She was also the oldest woman to date to serve in the House of Representatives.Born in Cleveland,...
from 1948 to 1949. He was in private practice 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....
and Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
from 1949 to 1971, also working as a speech and debate coach for American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
from 1954 to 1955. He was special counsel to Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, on Council Redistricting from 1965 to 1966, and was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Appeals, Maryland from 1965 to 1967, serving as chairman from 1966 to 1967. He was general counsel to the Maryland Public Service Commission
Maryland Public Service Commission
The Maryland Public Service Commission is an independent administrative agency within the state government which regulates public utilities and certain taxi cab and other passenger services in Maryland...
from 1967 to 1971.
Federal judicial service
On April 14, 1971, Richey was nominated by President Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to a 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...
vacated by Edward Matthew Curran
Edward Matthew Curran
Edward Matthew Curran was a United States federal judge.Born in Bangor, Maine, Curran received an LL.B. from Catholic University of America School of Law in 1927 and an A.B. from the University of Maine in 1928. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1928 to 1934...
. Richey 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 April 29, 1971, and received his commission on May 5, 1971.
Between the Watergate break-in and the run-up to the presidential election of 1972, Richey presided over the civil case brought by the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
seeking monetary damages from the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, given the derisive short-hand of "CREEP". His administration-friendly rulings seemed designed to delay the case until after the election and drove many interested parties, not the least of which was the Washington Post, to a state of near apoplexy. Many suspected and it was later confirmed that Richey was in communication with the Nixon White House. In his book about Watergate and his personal role, John Dean
John Dean
John Wesley Dean III is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel to United States President Richard Nixon from July 1970 until April 1973. In this position, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent Watergate scandal cover-up...
related that "the case looked under control" and that Judge Richey had been "sending encouraging signals through our contacts". In fact, the Judge "had been so accommodating as to urge Stans
Maurice Stans
Maurice Hubert Stans was an American accountant, high-ranking civil servant, Cabinet member, and political organizer...
to file a counter-suit against O’Brien
Larry O'Brien
Lawrence Francis "Larry" O'Brien, Jr. was one of the United States Democratic Party's leading electoral strategists when, for more than two decades, he helped reshape American politics...
for libel".
During this time, Joseph Califano was representing both the DNC and the Washington Post and, as he relates in his own memoirs, was increasingly astonished at Richey's unorthodox behavior behind the bench. When Richey asked all parties to join in a press release announcing that all legal activity would be postponed until after the election, Califano refused, and claimed that "Richey was furious". This episode was witnessed by a veteran criminal attorney, Harold Ungar, who told Califano, "Joe, in my thirty years of practice, I've never seen anything like this. Never! Pacing in circles, he mumbled over again, 'Never, never, never'".
In addition to his judicial activities, Richey was an Adjunct professor, Georgetown University Law Center from 1975 to 1997. Richey assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on January 23, 1997, and served in that capacity until his death later that year 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....