John Feikens
Encyclopedia
John Feikens was a politician and judge from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. He was the Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
(1986-present). Feikens had the unusual honor of being nominated to the same district court by three presidents.
Feikens was born in Clifton, New Jersey
. He later resided in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
. He was educated at Calvin College
, receiving a B.A.
in 1939, followed by a J.D.
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1941. He practiced law in Detroit from 1942-1960 and 1961-1970.
He worked in the priorities and war allocations department of the Detrex Corporation, in Detroit, Michigan
from 1942 to 1946. He entered the private practice of law in Detroit in 1946. He was an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
, a delegate to the 1956 convention
, and an alternate delegate in 1960
. He served as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
from 1953 to 1957 and was a member of the Republican National Committee
in 1954.
Feikens was first nominated to the bench by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
. On October 13, 1960, Feikens received a recess appointment
from Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
vacated by Clifford Patrick O'Sullivan
. Eisenhower formally nominated Feikens to the position on January 10, 1961, but the United States Senate
did not confirm him, due largely to the opposition of Senator McNamara
of Michigan. Feikens initial term of service was therefore terminated on September 27, 1961.
He was nominated again by John F. Kennedy
, but the president withdrew the nomination. His third and final nomination came from Richard M. Nixon, on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. By this time, McNamara had died, and Feiken was confirmed by the United States Senate
on November 25, 1970, and received his commission on December 1, 1970. He served as Chief Judge from 1979 to 1986, and became a Senior Judge
on March 1, 1986, continuing to serve in that position until his death.
Feikens died May 15, 2011. He was 93.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He was the Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
(1986-present). Feikens had the unusual honor of being nominated to the same district court by three presidents.
Feikens was born in Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
. He later resided in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe is a suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city covers just over one square mile, and had a population of 5,421 at the 2010 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe...
. He was educated at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
, receiving a B.A.
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...
in 1939, followed by a 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...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1941. He practiced law in Detroit from 1942-1960 and 1961-1970.
He worked in the priorities and war allocations department of the Detrex Corporation, in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
from 1942 to 1946. He entered the private practice of law in Detroit in 1946. He was an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
, a delegate to the 1956 convention
1956 Republican National Convention
The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
, and an alternate delegate in 1960
1960 Republican National Convention
The 1960 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre....
. He served as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
from 1953 to 1957 and was a member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 1954.
Feikens was first nominated to the bench 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...
. On October 13, 1960, Feikens received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
vacated by Clifford Patrick O'Sullivan
Clifford Patrick O'Sullivan
Clifford Patrick O'Sullivan was a United States federal judge.Born in Chicago, Illinois, O'Sullivan received an LL.B. from Notre Dame Law School in 1920...
. Eisenhower formally nominated Feikens to the position on January 10, 1961, but 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...
did not confirm him, due largely to the opposition of Senator McNamara
Patrick V. McNamara
Patrick Vincent McNamara was a Democratic United States Senator from the state of Michigan.McNamara was born in North Weymouth, Massachusetts and attended the public schools in nearby Weymouth and the Fore River Apprentice School in Quincy. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1921, and became active...
of Michigan. Feikens initial term of service was therefore terminated on September 27, 1961.
He was nominated again by John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, but the president withdrew the nomination. His third and final nomination came from Richard M. Nixon, on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. By this time, McNamara had died, and Feiken 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 November 25, 1970, and received his commission on December 1, 1970. He served as Chief Judge from 1979 to 1986, and became a Senior Judge
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 March 1, 1986, continuing to serve in that position until his death.
Feikens died May 15, 2011. He was 93.
Professional associations, civic and other activities
- Director of the Detroit Bar Association in (1962-1967), president 1967
- Member of the American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
- Trustee to the Detroit Bar Association Foundation
- State Bar of MichiganState Bar of MichiganThe State Bar of Michigan is an organization of lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership is mandatory for attorneys who practice law in the state of Michigan...
Commissioner (1965-1971) - Member of Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers
- Director of the Economic Club of Detroit
- Co-Chairman, Michigan Civil Rights Commission, (1964-1968)
- Board of Trustees, New Detroit, Inc. (1968-1970)
- Board of Trustees, Calvin CollegeCalvin CollegeCalvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
(1968-1974) - University of Michigan Club
- Committee of Visitors, University of Michigan Law SchoolUniversity of Michigan Law SchoolThe University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
- Director, Economic Club of Detroit