Louis Charles Bechtle
Encyclopedia
Louis Charles Bechtle is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, Bechtle was in the United States Army
from 1946 to 1947, then received a B.S.
from Temple University
in 1951 and an LL.B. from Temple University School of Law in 1954. He was an assistant United States Attorney
in Philadelphia from 1956 to 1959. He was in private practice in Philadelphia from 1959 to 1962, and in Norristown, Pennsylvania
from 1962 to 1969. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1972.
On February 14, 1972, Bechtle was nominated by President Richard Nixon
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
vacated by John W. Lord, Jr..
Bechtle was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 2, 1972, and received his commission on March 7, 1972. He served as chief judge from 1990 to 1993, assuming senior status
on April 30, 1993, and retiring from the bench entirely on June 30, 2001.
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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Bechtle was 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...
from 1946 to 1947, then received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1951 and an LL.B. from Temple University School of Law in 1954. He was an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in Philadelphia from 1956 to 1959. He was in private practice in Philadelphia from 1959 to 1962, and in Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
from 1962 to 1969. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1972.
On February 14, 1972, Bechtle was nominated by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
vacated by John W. Lord, Jr..
Bechtle 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 March 2, 1972, and received his commission on March 7, 1972. He served as chief judge from 1990 to 1993, assuming 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 30, 1993, and retiring from the bench entirely on June 30, 2001.