Sam C. Pointer Jr.

Sam C. Pointer Jr.
Sam C. Pointer Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
	In office; November 19, 1999 – April 3, 2000
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
	In office; 1982–1999
Preceded by	Frank Hampton McFadden
Succeeded by	U. W. Clemon
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
	In office; October 14, 1970 – November 19, 1999
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	Karon O. Bowdre
Personal details
Born	Sam Clyde Pointer Jr.; November 15, 1934; Birmingham, Alabama
Died	March 15, 2008 (aged 73)
Education	Vanderbilt University (A.B.); University of Alabama School of Law (J.D.); New York University School of Law (LL.M.)

Sam Clyde Pointer Jr. (November 15, 1934 – March 15, 2008) was an attorney in

class-action

litigation.

Early life, education, and career

He was born in

87th Maneuver Area Command and rose to the rank of major. He was in private practice in Birmingham from 1958 to 1970, working for his father, Sam C. Pointer Sr.^[1]

Federal judicial service

Pointer was nominated by President Richard Nixon on September 22, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, to a new seat authorized by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 8, 1970, and received his commission on October 14, 1970. He served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1999. He assumed senior status on November 19, 1999. His service terminated on April 3, 2000, due to his retirement.^[1]

Notable cases

While on the bench, Pointer ruled that

silicone gel breast implants, a national case assigned to him by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.^{[citation needed]} He was also involved in antitrust litigation against cast iron pipe and plywood manufacturers.^{[citation needed}

]

Other service

In addition to his work on the bench, Pointer was principal author of the Manual for Complex Litigation, 2nd edition and served on the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.^[citation needed] From 1980 to 1987 he served on the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals and from 1991 to 1993 was Chair of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules.^{[citation needed]}

Post-judicial service

After retiring, Pointer joined the Birmingham firm of Lightfoot, Franklin & White as a partner.^{[citation needed]} He led the 2007 investigation into alleged academic improprieties surrounding the Hoover High School football team, concluding that athletes were given special treatment. The report led to the resignation of coach Rush Propst.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a ^b Sam Clyde Pointer Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Sources

Sam Clyde Pointer Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
Meier, Barry (September 29, 1995) "A Judge and a Deadline: The Breast Implant Case" The New York Times
Walton, Val (March 16, 2008) "Retired Alabama federal judge Sam Pointer Jr., towering legal figure, dies." Birmingham News

Legal offices
Preceded by Seat established by 84 Stat. 294	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama 1970–1999	Succeeded by Karon O. Bowdre
Preceded by Frank Hampton McFadden	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama 1982–1999	Succeeded by U. W. Clemon

[auto-1] Sam Clyde Pointer Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

[1]