John F. Gerry
Encyclopedia
Judge
John Francis Gerry (1926 – March 10, 1995) was the chief United States district judge
on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
for seven years and a former top official of the policy-making arm of the Federal bench.
Judge Gerry, who was born and raised in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
, stepped down as the state's chief judge in October 1994, as a senior member of the system. In 1974, he was appointed to the bench by United States President Gerald R. Ford after serving for two years as a judge on the Camden County Superior Court and State Superior Court
.
From January 1992 until he left the chief judgeship, he was also the chairman of the executive committee
of the Judicial Conference of the United States
. The conference, which administers the Federal courts, was headed by William H. Rehnquist, the former Chief Justice
of the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Gerry enlisted in World War II
in 1944 while in his senior year in high school, and he served in the Pacific Theater as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946.
He returned from the war, enrolled at Princeton University
in 1946 and graduated magna cum laude in 1950. He attended Harvard Law School
, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1953 with his J.D.
.
He was a partner for 17 years in the firm of Wallace, Douglass & Gerry in Camden
, handling mostly civil and corporate law cases, until leaving in 1972 for the bench.
Gerry died March 10, 1995 in his home in Moorestown Township, New Jersey
.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
John Francis Gerry (1926 – March 10, 1995) was the chief United States district 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....
on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
for seven years and a former top official of the policy-making arm of the Federal bench.
Judge Gerry, who was born and raised in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
Mount Holly Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States as well as an eastern suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,728. It is the county seat of Burlington County....
, stepped down as the state's chief judge in October 1994, as a senior member of the system. In 1974, he was appointed to the bench by United States President Gerald R. Ford after serving for two years as a judge on the Camden County Superior Court and State Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
.
From January 1992 until he left the chief judgeship, he was also the chairman of the executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
of the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
. The conference, which administers the Federal courts, was headed by William H. Rehnquist, the former Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Gerry enlisted in 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...
in 1944 while in his senior year in high school, and he served in the Pacific Theater as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946.
He returned from the war, enrolled at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1946 and graduated magna cum laude in 1950. He attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1953 with his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
.
He was a partner for 17 years in the firm of Wallace, Douglass & Gerry in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, handling mostly civil and corporate law cases, until leaving in 1972 for the bench.
Gerry died March 10, 1995 in his home in Moorestown Township, New Jersey
Moorestown Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
.