William Earl Britt
Encyclopedia
William Earl Britt is a United States federal judge
.
Britt was born in McDonald, North Carolina
. He was the younger brother of David M. Britt
. He received a B.S. from Wake Forest University
in 1956 and an LL.B. from Wake Forest University School of Law
in 1958. He was in the United States Army
(SP-4) from 1953 to 1955. He was a law clerk
for the Hon. Emery B. Denny
of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1958 to 1959. He was in private practice of law in Fairmont and Lumberton, North Carolina
from 1959 to 1980.
Britt was a federal judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
. Britt was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
on April 14, 1980, to a seat vacated by John D. Larkins, Jr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 21, 1980, and received his commission on May 23, 1980. He served as chief judge, 1983-1990. Britt assumed senior status
on December 7, 1997.
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....
.
Britt was born in McDonald, North Carolina
McDonald, North Carolina
McDonald is a town in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 119 at the 2000 census.-Geography:McDonald is located at ....
. He was the younger brother of David M. Britt
David M. Britt
David Maxwell Britt was a North Carolina politician and jurist who served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, as one of the original judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and finally as a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court...
. He received a B.S. from Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1956 and an LL.B. from Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
in 1958. He 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...
(SP-4) from 1953 to 1955. He 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...
for the Hon. Emery B. Denny
Emery B. Denny
Emery Byrd Denny was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1942 until 1962 and as chief justice of that court from 1962 until 1966....
of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1958 to 1959. He was in private practice of law in Fairmont and Lumberton, North Carolina
Lumberton, North Carolina
Lumberton is a city in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 20,795 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Robeson County. Lumberton, located in southern North Carolina's Inner Banks region, is located on the Lumber River...
from 1959 to 1980.
Britt was a federal judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is the United States District Court that serves the eastern 44 counties in North Carolina. Appeals from the Eastern District of North Carolina are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The...
. Britt 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...
on April 14, 1980, to a seat vacated by John D. Larkins, Jr. 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 May 21, 1980, and received his commission on May 23, 1980. He served as chief judge, 1983-1990. Britt 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 December 7, 1997.