James Archibald
Encyclopedia
James Putnam Archibald
The son of a lawyer, Archibald attended Bowdoin College
and law school at Boston University
before returning to Houlton
in 1937. He worked in his father's firm and in 1941 was elected Aroostook County attorney. After military service during World War II he was re-elected to the post.
As a special assistant attorney general, he was called to investigate the double murder of a doctor and his wife, and in 1954 led a probe into allegations of payoffs by a Maine wine distributor to the state liquor commission.
He was appointed to the Superior Court in 1957 by Governor Edmund Muskie
. In 1971, Governor Kenneth M. Curtis
appointed him to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
in 1971. He became an active retired justice in 1981.
Archibald was highly respected and well liked by lawyers and fellow judges. Former Maine Chief Justice Vincent McCusick eulogized him as "the grand old man of the supreme judiciary".
The son of a lawyer, Archibald attended Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
and law school at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
before returning to Houlton
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the United States – Canada border, located at . As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith...
in 1937. He worked in his father's firm and in 1941 was elected Aroostook County attorney. After military service during World War II he was re-elected to the post.
As a special assistant attorney general, he was called to investigate the double murder of a doctor and his wife, and in 1954 led a probe into allegations of payoffs by a Maine wine distributor to the state liquor commission.
He was appointed to the Superior Court in 1957 by Governor Edmund Muskie
Edmund Muskie
Edmund Sixtus "Ed" Muskie was an American politician from Rumford, Maine. He served as Governor of Maine from 1955 to 1959, as a member of the United States Senate from 1959 to 1980, and as Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter from 1980 to 1981...
. In 1971, Governor Kenneth M. Curtis
Kenneth M. Curtis
Kenneth Merwin Curtis is an American lawyer and former politician. He is currently a principal in the law firm of Curtis Thaxter Stevens Broder & Micoleau Limited Liability Company, P.A....
appointed him to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
in 1971. He became an active retired justice in 1981.
Archibald was highly respected and well liked by lawyers and fellow judges. Former Maine Chief Justice Vincent McCusick eulogized him as "the grand old man of the supreme judiciary".