Odell Horton
Encyclopedia
Odell Horton was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Bolivar, Tennessee
, Horton was a U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1953. He received a B.A.
from Morehouse College
in 1951, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, and received an LL.B. from Howard University School of Law
in 1956. He was in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee
from 1957 to 1962. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Tennessee from 1962 to 1968. He was a Director, Division of Hospital and Health Services, City of Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. He was a judge on the Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee from 1969 to 1970. He was a President, LeMoyne-Owen College
from 1970 to 1974. He was a Commentator, WREC-TV (CBS) from 1972 to 1974. He was a Director, Community Health Services, Mid-South Medical Center Council, Memphis, Tennessee from 1974 to 1976.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee, 1976–1980
On February 27, 1980, Horton was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
vacated by Bailey Brown
. Horton was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 9, 1980, and received his commission on May 12, 1980. He served as chief judge from 1987-1994. He assumed senior status
on May 16, 1995. Horton served in that capacity until his death, in Memphis, Tennessee
.
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 Bolivar, Tennessee
Bolivar, Tennessee
Bolivar is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,802. It is the county seat of Hardeman County. The town was named for South American revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar, but is pronounced to rhyme with the name Oliver. Bolivar...
, Horton was a U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1953. He received 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...
from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in 1951, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
Fraternity, and received an LL.B. from Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is one the oldest law schools in the country and the oldest historically black college or university law school in the United States...
in 1956. He was in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
from 1957 to 1962. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Tennessee from 1962 to 1968. He was a Director, Division of Hospital and Health Services, City of Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. He was a judge on the Shelby County Criminal Court, Tennessee from 1969 to 1970. He was a President, LeMoyne-Owen College
LeMoyne-Owen College
-External links:*...
from 1970 to 1974. He was a Commentator, WREC-TV (CBS) from 1972 to 1974. He was a Director, Community Health Services, Mid-South Medical Center Council, Memphis, Tennessee from 1974 to 1976.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee, 1976–1980
On February 27, 1980, Horton was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee is the Federal district court covering the western part of the state of Tennessee. Appeals from the Western District of Tennessee are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit The United States District...
vacated by Bailey Brown
Bailey Brown
Bailey Brown was a United States federal judge.Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Brown received an A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1939, and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1942. He was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1942 to 1946...
. Horton 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 May 9, 1980, and received his commission on May 12, 1980. He served as chief judge from 1987-1994. He assumed 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 May 16, 1995. Horton served in that capacity until his death, in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.