Fred Joseph Nichol
Encyclopedia
Fred Joseph Nichol was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Sioux City, Iowa
, Nichol received an A.B.
from Yankton College
in 1933 and an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law
in 1936. From 1936 to 1938 he was an Assistant to the Administrative Assistant, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. He was in private practice in Mitchell, South Dakota
from 1938 to 1958, interrupted by service as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy
during World War II
, from 1943 to 1946.
Nichol also served as a state's attorney of Davison County, South Dakota
from 1947 to 1951, a Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from 1951 to 1952 and 1957 to 1958, and an assistant United States Attorney
of the District of South Dakota from 1951 to 1953. Nichol was a judge on the 4th Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota from 1959 to 1965.
On May 18, 1965, Nichol was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
vacated by George T. Mickelson
. Confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 9, 1965, Nichol received his commission on June 10, 1965 and served as chief judge from 1966 to 1980. He assumed senior status
on June 11, 1980 and served in that capacity until his death on December 31, 1996. Nichol was the presiding judge over the 1974 U.S. District Court trial
of AIM (American Indian Movement) members who had taken over the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota for 71 days in 1973.
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 Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Nichol 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 Yankton College
Yankton College
Yankton College was a small liberal arts college in Yankton, South Dakota, affiliated with the Congregational Christian Churches .Founded in 1881, it was the first institution of higher learning in the Dakota Territory...
in 1933 and an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law
University of South Dakota School of Law
The University of South Dakota School of Law is the law school of the University of South Dakota and the only law school in the state of South Dakota. It is located on the USD campus in Vermillion in the southeastern part of the state, near the Missouri River and the Iowa and Nebraska borders...
in 1936. From 1936 to 1938 he was an Assistant to the Administrative Assistant, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. He was in private practice in Mitchell, South Dakota
Mitchell, South Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,558 people, 6,121 households, and 3,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.7 people per square mile . There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 664.4 per square mile...
from 1938 to 1958, interrupted by service as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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...
, from 1943 to 1946.
Nichol also served as a state's attorney of Davison County, South Dakota
Davison County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,741 people, 7,585 households, and 4,770 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 8,093 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
from 1947 to 1951, a Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
South Dakota House of Representatives
The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 70 members, two from each legislative district...
from 1951 to 1952 and 1957 to 1958, and 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...
of the District of South Dakota from 1951 to 1953. Nichol was a judge on the 4th Judicial Circuit Court of South Dakota from 1959 to 1965.
On May 18, 1965, Nichol was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
vacated by George T. Mickelson
George T. Mickelson
George Theodore Mickelson was the 18th Governor of South Dakota, and later a United States federal judge.-Background:...
. 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 9, 1965, Nichol received his commission on June 10, 1965 and served as chief judge from 1966 to 1980. 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...
on June 11, 1980 and served in that capacity until his death on December 31, 1996. Nichol was the presiding judge over the 1974 U.S. District Court trial
Wounded Knee Incident
The Wounded Knee incident began February 27, 1973 when about 200 Oglala Lakota and followers of the American Indian Movement seized and occupied the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation...
of AIM (American Indian Movement) members who had taken over the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota for 71 days in 1973.