Edward Devitt
Encyclopedia
Edward James Devitt was a United States Representative and United States District Judge from Minnesota
.
, Minnesota, Devitt graduated from St. John's College Preparatory High School
in Collegeville, Minnesota in 1930, and attended St. John's University from 1930 to 1932 before receiving an LL.B. from the University of North Dakota
, Grand Forks, North Dakota
in 1935, and a B.S.
from that institution in 1938. Devitt was in private practice in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
from 1935 to 1939, serving at the same time as a municipal judge of the Minnesota Municipal Court in East Grand Forks. He was an assistant state attorney general of Minnesota from 1939 to 1942. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
, as a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander from 1942 to 1946.
(January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949). He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection to the 81st congress
in 1948.
Court for Ramsey County from 1950 to 1954. On December 10, 1954, Devitt received a recess appointment
from President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
vacated by Matthew M. Joyce
. Formally nominated on January 10, 1955, Devitt was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 4, 1955, and received his commission on February 7, 1955. He served as chief judge of the district from 1959 to 1981, assuming senior status
on May 1, 1981. Devitt served in that capacity until his death, in St. Paul, in 1992, aged 80. The American Judicature Society
has awarded the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award each year since 1983 to an Article III
judge. The first recipient was Albert Branson Maris
.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Early life, education, and career
Born in St. Paul, Ramsey CountyRamsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
, Minnesota, Devitt graduated from St. John's College Preparatory High School
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...
in Collegeville, Minnesota in 1930, and attended St. John's University from 1930 to 1932 before receiving an LL.B. from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
in 1935, and a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from that institution in 1938. Devitt was in private practice in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
East Grand Forks, Minnesota
-K-12:The East Grand Forks School District enrolls over 1,000 students and operates two elementary schools , Central Middle School, and East Grand Forks Senior High School. There are also two private Christian schools. Sacred Heart School is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle, and high school...
from 1935 to 1939, serving at the same time as a municipal judge of the Minnesota Municipal Court in East Grand Forks. He was an assistant state attorney general of Minnesota from 1939 to 1942. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander from 1942 to 1946.
Congressional service
Devitt was elected as a Republican to the 80th congress80th United States Congress
The Eightieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1949, during the third and fourth...
(January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949). He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection to the 81st congress
81st United States Congress
The Eighty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
in 1948.
Federal judicial service
Devitt returned to private practice in St. Paul from 1949 to 1950, and was a judge of the Minnesota ProbateProbate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
Court for Ramsey County from 1950 to 1954. On December 10, 1954, Devitt 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapolis and Saint Paul...
vacated by Matthew M. Joyce
Matthew M. Joyce
Matthew M. Joyce was a United States federal judge.Born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, Joyce attended the University of Michigan Law School and read law to enter the bar in 1900. He was in private practice in Missoula, Montana from 1900 to 1910, and then in Fort Dodge, Iowa until 1917. He was an Attorney...
. Formally nominated on January 10, 1955, Devitt 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 February 4, 1955, and received his commission on February 7, 1955. He served as chief judge of the district from 1959 to 1981, 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 May 1, 1981. Devitt served in that capacity until his death, in St. Paul, in 1992, aged 80. The American Judicature Society
American Judicature Society
The American Judicature Society is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization of judges, lawyers, and interested members of the public whose mission is to improve the American justice system - to "secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and fair system of justice." ...
has awarded the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award each year since 1983 to an Article III
Article Three of the United States Constitution
Article Three of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government. The judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court of the United States and lower courts as created by Congress.-Section 1: Federal courts:...
judge. The first recipient was Albert Branson Maris
Albert Branson Maris
Albert Branson Maris was a United States federal judge.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maris received an LL.B. from Temple University in 1918 and was a Private in the United States Army in that year...
.