Richard Howard Battey
Encyclopedia
Richard Howard Battey is a senior
United States federal judge
on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
.
Battey was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota
. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota
in 1950, he received a J.D.
from the University of South Dakota School of Law
in 1953. After serving as a United States Army
Lieutenant from 1953 to 1955, he went into in private practice in Redfield, South Dakota
from 1955 to 1985. During that thirty-year period, he was the city attorney of Redfield from 1956 to 1963, and a state's attorney of Spink County, South Dakota
from 1959 to 1965 and from 1981 to 1985.
In 1985 Battey became a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Battey was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on September 27, 1985, to a seat vacated when Andrew W. Bogue assumed senior status. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 25, 1985, and received his commission on October 28, 1985. He served as chief judge from 1994 to 1998. Judge Battey assumed senior status on January 1, 1999.
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...
United States federal 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 South Dakota
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
.
Battey was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
in 1950, he received 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 South Dakota School of Law
University of South Dakota School of Law
The University of South Dakota School of Law is the law school of the University of South Dakota and the only law school in the state of South Dakota. It is located on the USD campus in Vermillion in the southeastern part of the state, near the Missouri River and the Iowa and Nebraska borders...
in 1953. After serving as a 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...
Lieutenant from 1953 to 1955, he went into in private practice in Redfield, South Dakota
Redfield, South Dakota
Redfield is a city in and the county seat of Spink County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,333 at the 2010 census. The city is not to be confused with the surrounding Redfield Township, which encompasses unincorporated areas outside of the city limits.-Geography:Redfield is...
from 1955 to 1985. During that thirty-year period, he was the city attorney of Redfield from 1956 to 1963, and a state's attorney of Spink County, South Dakota
Spink County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,454 people, 2,847 households, and 1,933 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 3,352 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
from 1959 to 1965 and from 1981 to 1985.
In 1985 Battey became a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Battey was nominated by 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....
on September 27, 1985, to a seat vacated when Andrew W. Bogue assumed senior status. 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 October 25, 1985, and received his commission on October 28, 1985. He served as chief judge from 1994 to 1998. Judge Battey assumed senior status on January 1, 1999.