Walter Jay Skinner
Encyclopedia
Walter Jay Skinner was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Washington, D.C.
, Skinner received an A.B.
from Harvard University
in 1948 and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School
in 1952. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1952 to 1957, and in Scituate, Massachusetts
from 1957 to 1963, and was also Scituate's town counsel and an assistant district attorney
of Plymouth County, Massachusetts
from 1957 to 1963. He was an assistant attorney general/chief of the Massachusetts Criminal Division from 1963 to 1965, thereafter returning to private practice in Boston until 1973.
On October 10, 1973, Skinner was nominated by President Richard Nixon
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
vacated by Anthony Julian
. Skinner was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 14, 1973, and received his commission on December 19, 1973.
Skinner is noted for his role in the groundwater contamination case out of Woburn, Massachusetts
, which became the basis for the book A Civil Action
by Jonathan Harr
, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for NonFiction, and the subsequent film of the same name starring John Travolta
. Skinner has been criticized for several controversial rulings he made during the trial, most notably sending questions to the jury that he and the lawyers themselves found too confusing.
He assumed senior status
on September 14, 1992, serving in that capacity until his death, in Concord, Massachusetts
.
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 Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Skinner received an A.B.
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 Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1948 and 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 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 1952. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1952 to 1957, and in Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
from 1957 to 1963, and was also Scituate's town counsel and an assistant district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
from 1957 to 1963. He was an assistant attorney general/chief of the Massachusetts Criminal Division from 1963 to 1965, thereafter returning to private practice in Boston until 1973.
On October 10, 1973, Skinner 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 District of Massachusetts
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and until 1813 court session locations...
vacated by Anthony Julian
Anthony Julian
Anthony Julian was a United States federal judge.Julian received an A.B. from Boston College in 1925 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1929. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1929 to 1953. He was a member of the town counsel of Watertown, Massachusetts from 1930 to 1932...
. Skinner 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 14, 1973, and received his commission on December 19, 1973.
Skinner is noted for his role in the groundwater contamination case out of Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
, which became the basis for the book A Civil Action
A Civil Action
A Civil Action is a 1998 American drama film starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall, based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Harr...
by Jonathan Harr
Jonathan Harr
Jonathan Harr is an American writer, best known for A Civil Action.Harr was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. He lives and works in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he has taught nonfiction writing at Smith College. He is a former staff writer at New England Monthly and has written for The New Yorker...
, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for NonFiction, and the subsequent film of the same name starring John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
. Skinner has been criticized for several controversial rulings he made during the trial, most notably sending questions to the jury that he and the lawyers themselves found too confusing.
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 September 14, 1992, serving in that capacity until his death, in Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
.