Frederick van Pelt Bryan
Encyclopedia
Frederick van Pelt Bryan (April 27, 1904 – April 17, 1978) was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Brooklyn, New York
, Bryan received an A.B.
from Columbia University
in 1925 and an LL.B. from Columbia University Law School in 1928. He was in private practice in New York City
from 1928 to 1933. He was an assistant corporation counsel in New York City
from 1933 to 1937, and a first assistant corporation counsel from 1938 to 1942. He served in the United States Army
during [{World War II]], from 1942 to 1946; thereafter returning to private practice in New York City from 1946 to 1956. He was a member of the Temporary State Commission to Study the Organizational Structure of the Government of the City of New York from 1953 to 1954, and was counsel to the Temporary Commission on the Courts of the State of New York from 1954 to 1956.
On May 18, 1956, Bryan was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
vacated by William Bondy
. Bryan was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 13, 1956, and received his commission on June 19, 1956. He assumed senior status
on April 1, 1972, serving in that capacity until his death, in New York, New York.
Bryan authored the opinion holding that D.H.Lawrence's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover
was not obscene, based on its' "redeeming social or literary value", introducing a standard henceforth upheld by the Supreme Court.
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 Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Bryan 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 Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1925 and an LL.B. from Columbia University Law School in 1928. 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 1928 to 1933. He was an assistant corporation counsel 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 1933 to 1937, and a first assistant corporation counsel from 1938 to 1942. 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...
during [{World War II]], from 1942 to 1946; thereafter returning to private practice in New York City from 1946 to 1956. He was a member of the Temporary State Commission to Study the Organizational Structure of the Government of the City of New York from 1953 to 1954, and was counsel to the Temporary Commission on the Courts of the State of New York from 1954 to 1956.
On May 18, 1956, Bryan was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
vacated by William Bondy
William Bondy
William Bondy was a longtime federal judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York....
. Bryan 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 13, 1956, and received his commission on June 19, 1956. 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 April 1, 1972, serving in that capacity until his death, in New York, New York.
Bryan authored the opinion holding that D.H.Lawrence's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover is a novel by D. H. Lawrence, first published in 1928. The first edition was printed privately in Florence, Italy with assistance from Pino Orioli; it could not be published openly in the United Kingdom until 1960...
was not obscene, based on its' "redeeming social or literary value", introducing a standard henceforth upheld by the Supreme Court.