John Winslow Bissell
Encyclopedia
John Winslow Bissell is an American judge
and attorney who served as a Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
from 1982-2005. He served as Chief Judge of the Court from 2001-2005.
, Bissell graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
in 1958 and received his bachelor's degree in History from Princeton University
in 1962. He then went on to earn an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1965.
to Judge Arthur Stephen Lane
of the District of New Jersey
from 1965 to 1966.
After his clerkship, Bissell entered private practice in Morristown, New Jersey
from 1966 to 1969 before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from 1969-1971. He then returned to private practice from 1972 to 1978 before serving as Judge in the Essex County, New Jersey
District Court from 1978 to 1981, and of the Superior Court of New Jersey from 1981 to 1982.
On November 23, 1982, President Ronald Reagan
nominated Bissell to serve on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
, to a seat vacated by Vincent P. Biunno. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 10, 1982 and received his commission the same day. He served as a Judge on that Court from until 2005, including a term as Chief Judge from 2001 to 2005. He retired on September 1, 2005, and returned to private practice, joining Connell Foley
.
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...
and attorney who served as a Judge for 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....
from 1982-2005. He served as Chief Judge of the Court from 2001-2005.
Early life
Born in Exeter, New HampshireExeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
, Bissell graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
in 1958 and received his bachelor's degree in History from 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 1962. He then went on to earn an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1965.
Career
Following graduation from law school, Bissell served as law clerkLaw clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Judge Arthur Stephen Lane
Arthur Stephen Lane
Arthur Stephen Lane was a United States federal judge.Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, Lane received a B.A. from Princeton University in 1934, where he received the Moses Taylor Pyne Honor Prize, Princeton's highest undergraduate honor. He received an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1937...
of 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....
from 1965 to 1966.
After his clerkship, Bissell entered private practice in Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
from 1966 to 1969 before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from 1969-1971. He then returned to private practice from 1972 to 1978 before serving as Judge in the Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
District Court from 1978 to 1981, and of the Superior Court of New Jersey from 1981 to 1982.
On November 23, 1982, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Bissell to serve 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....
, to a seat vacated by Vincent P. Biunno. He 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 December 10, 1982 and received his commission the same day. He served as a Judge on that Court from until 2005, including a term as Chief Judge from 2001 to 2005. He retired on September 1, 2005, and returned to private practice, joining Connell Foley
Connell Foley
Connell Foley LLP is a major law firm that was established in 1936. Its primary office is located in Roseland, New Jersey, with additional offices in Jersey City, New York City and Philadelphia....
.