Sylvia Bacon
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Bacon was a judge
of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
who was considered by both Richard Nixon
and Ronald Reagan
as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States
, at a time when no women had yet been appointed to the Court.
Born in Watertown, South Dakota
, Bacon attended Watertown High School, and received a B.A.
from Vassar College
in 1952, a Certificate from the London School of Economics
in 1953, an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
in 1956, and an LL.M.
from the Georgetown University Law Center
in 1959. While at Vassar, she was an officer in the National Student Association
. From 1956 to 1957, she was a law clerk
to District Court judge Burnita Shelton Matthews
. She worked in various positions within the United States Department of Justice
from 1956 to 1970, during which time she "helped draft the District of Columbia's controversial no-knock
crime bill", and "served under Ramsey Clark and helped draft legislation for court reform in the District of Columbia". She was appointed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1970, serving until 1991.
Bacon is currently a "distinguished lecturer" on the faculty of the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
.
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...
of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia is the local trial court for the District of Columbia. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law. The court also handles specialized cases in the following areas: family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax, and traffic offenses...
who was considered by both 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...
and 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....
as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, at a time when no women had yet been appointed to the Court.
Born in Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
, Bacon attended Watertown High School, and 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 Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1952, a Certificate from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1953, an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1956, and an LL.M.
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1959. While at Vassar, she was an officer in the National Student Association
National Student Association
The United States National Student Association, a confederation of American college and university student governments, was founded in 1947 at a conference at the University of Wisconsin. It established its first headquarters in Madison, not far from the U. of Wisconsin campus...
. From 1956 to 1957, she was a law clerk
Law 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 District Court judge Burnita Shelton Matthews
Burnita Shelton Matthews
Burnita Shelton Matthews was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She was the first woman appointed to serve on a U.S...
. She worked in various positions within the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
from 1956 to 1970, during which time she "helped draft the District of Columbia's controversial no-knock
No knock warrant
In the US, a no knock warrant is a warrant issued by a judge that allows law enforcement officers to enter a property without immediate prior notification of the residents, such as by knocking or ringing a doorbell. In most cases, law enforcement will identify themselves just before they forcefully...
crime bill", and "served under Ramsey Clark and helped draft legislation for court reform in the District of Columbia". She was appointed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1970, serving until 1991.
Bacon is currently a "distinguished lecturer" on the faculty of the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Columbus School of Law
The Columbus School of Law, also known as CUA Law, is the law school of The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C..Over 900 Juris Doctor students attend CUA Law. Incoming classes are typically composed of two to three hundred students, including day and night programs. Around 3,500...
.
See also
- Richard Nixon Supreme Court candidatesRichard Nixon Supreme Court candidatesPresident Richard Nixon entered office in 1969 with Chief Justice Earl Warren having announced his retirement from Supreme Court of the United States the previous year. Nixon appointed Warren E. Burger to replace Earl Warren, and during his time in office appointed three other members of the...
- Ronald Reagan Supreme Court candidatesRonald Reagan Supreme Court candidatesSpeculation abounded over potential nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States by Ronald Reagan even before his presidency officially began, due to the advanced ages of several justices, and Reagan's own highlighting of Supreme Court nominations as a campaign issue...