William Matthew Byrne Jr.
William Matthew Byrne Jr. | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California | |
In office February 28, 1998 – January 12, 2006 | |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California | |
In office 1994–1998 | |
Preceded by | Manuel Real |
Succeeded by | Terry J. Hatter Jr. |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California | |
In office May 20, 1971 – February 28, 1998 | |
Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 |
Succeeded by | Virginia A. Phillips |
United States Attorney for the Central District of California | |
In office March 26, 1967 – May 18, 1970 | |
President | Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | John K. Van de Kamp |
Succeeded by | Robert L. Meyer |
Personal details | |
Born | William Matthew Byrne Jr. September 3, 1930 Los Angeles, California |
Died | January 12, 2006 Los Feliz, California | (aged 75)
Parent |
|
Education | University of Southern California (BS, LLB) |
William Matthew Byrne Jr. (September 3, 1930 – January 14, 2006) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Education and career
Born in
Federal judicial service
On April 21, 1971, President Richard Nixon nominated Byrne to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 20, and received his commission the same day. Byrne served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 1998. He assumed senior status on February 28, 1998.[1] His served in that capacity until his death on January 12, 2006, in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California.[2]
Pentagon Papers trial
Byrne was assigned the Pentagon Papers case the same year he arrived on the bench.[
Days after the disclosure,
It was later learned that while Byrne was presiding over the pending Ellsberg trial, John D. Ehrlichman met with Byrne at Nixon's Western White House (La Casa Pacifica) in San Clemente, California, to discuss the judge's becoming director of the FBI.[3] According to Ehrlichman's later testimony Byrne was eager for the appointment,[4] while Byrne stated that he had refused to consider the appointment during the pending trial.[3] Neither Byrne nor Ehrlichman revealed this discussion about the FBI directorship to the litigants in the Ellsberg case until his visit was discovered by the press.[citation needed] Ultimately, Byrne was not nominated as director of the FBI.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ a b William Matthew Byrne Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ William Matthew Byrne Jr., 75; U.S. Judge Presided Over Trial of Pentagon Papers' Daniel Ellsberg, Los Angeles Times, by Elaine Woo, Times Staff Writer, Retrieved 13 June 2011, http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/14/local/me-byrne14
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
- ^ July 25, 1973 transcript of testimony by John D. Ehrlichman before the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities
Sources
- William Matthew Byrne Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.