Adrian Anthony Spears
Encyclopedia
Adrian Anthony Spears was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Darlington, South Carolina
, Spears received an LL.B. from the University of South Carolina Law Center in 1934, and was in private practice in Darlington, South Carolina
from 1934 to 1936, and then in San Antonio, Texas
from 1937 to 1961. He was a special district judge of the State of Texas in 1951.
On October 5, 1961, Spears received a recess appointment
from President John F. Kennedy
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
created by 75 Stat. 80. Formally nominated on January 15, 1962, he was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 16, 1962, and received his commission the following day. He served as chief judge from 1962–1979, assuming senior status
on October 10, 1979. He resigned from the court entirely on December 31, 1982. He was thereafter a Vice president of Tetco, Inc., in San Antonio, from 1983 until his death in that city in 1991.
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 Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Spears received an LL.B. from the University of South Carolina Law Center in 1934, and was in private practice in Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
from 1934 to 1936, and then in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
from 1937 to 1961. He was a special district judge of the State of Texas in 1951.
On October 5, 1961, Spears received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
The United States District Court For the Western District Of Texas is a Federal district court. The court convenes in San Antonio with divisions in Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, and Waco. It has jurisdiction in over 50 Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Hill Country counties of the U.S....
created by 75 Stat. 80. Formally nominated on January 15, 1962, 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 March 16, 1962, and received his commission the following day. He served as chief judge from 1962–1979, assuming 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 October 10, 1979. He resigned from the court entirely on December 31, 1982. He was thereafter a Vice president of Tetco, Inc., in San Antonio, from 1983 until his death in that city in 1991.