F. Ryan Duffy
Encyclopedia
Francis Ryan Duffy was a member of the Democratic Party
who served in the United States Senate
for the state of Wisconsin
from 1933 to 1939 and later a United States federal judge
.
and graduated from the University of Wisconsin
in 1910, received an LL.B. from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1912. After working in private practice in Fond du Lac from 1912 to 1917, he served in the United States Army
from 1917 to 1919. He resumed the practice of law after his service.
Duffy was then elected to the United States Senate
, serving as a senator from Wisconsin from 1933 to 1939.
After serving Wisconsin in the United States Senate, Duffy was nominated to be a Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on June 21, 1939 to a seat vacated by Ferdinand August Geiger
. He was duly confirmed by the Senate on June 29, 1939.
In 1949 Duffy was nominated to be a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
by President Harry S. Truman
on January 13, 1949 to a seat vacated by Evan Alfred Evans
. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1949 and received his commission on February 2. In 1954 he became Chief Judge of that same court, serving until 1959. He assumed senior status
in 1966, remaining on the Court until his death.
Duffy died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, aged 91. He is buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Fond du Lac.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who served in 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...
for the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
from 1933 to 1939 and later a United States federal judge
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....
.
Biography
Duffy was born in Fond du Lac, WisconsinFond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
and graduated from the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1910, received an LL.B. from the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
in 1912. After working in private practice in Fond du Lac from 1912 to 1917, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1917 to 1919. He resumed the practice of law after his service.
Duffy was then elected to 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...
, serving as a senator from Wisconsin from 1933 to 1939.
After serving Wisconsin in the United States Senate, Duffy was nominated to be a Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin serves the residents of twenty-eight counties from its two courthouses...
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...
on June 21, 1939 to a seat vacated by Ferdinand August Geiger
Ferdinand August Geiger
Ferdinand August Geiger was a United States federal judge.Born in Cassville, Wisconsin, Geiger was in private practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1888 to 1912....
. He was duly confirmed by the Senate on June 29, 1939.
In 1949 Duffy was nominated to be a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
on January 13, 1949 to a seat vacated by Evan Alfred Evans
Evan Alfred Evans
Evan Alfred Evans was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from May 17, 1916 until his death....
. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1949 and received his commission on February 2. In 1954 he became Chief Judge of that same court, serving until 1959. He 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...
in 1966, remaining on the Court until his death.
Duffy died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, aged 91. He is buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Fond du Lac.