Edward Francis Harrington
Encyclopedia
Edward Francis Harrington (born 1933) is a United States federal judge
.
, Harrington received an A.B.
from College of the Holy Cross
in 1955 and a J.D.
from Boston College Law School
in 1960. He was in the United States Navy
Lieutenant, JAG Corps from 1955 to 1957. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1957 to 1972. He was a law clerk
, Hon. Paul C. Reardon, Chief Judge, Massachusetts Superior Court from 1960 to 1961. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts in 1961.
in 1969. He was an Attorney-in-charge, U.S. Department of Justice's 'Strike Force' agst. Organized Crime from 1970 to 1973. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1977. In 1974
he was a candidate for Massachusetts Attorney General
, finishing third in the Democratic Primary. He was the United States Attorney
for the District of Massachusetts from 1977 to 1981. He was in private practice in Framingham, Massachusetts
from 1981 to 1988. Harrington ran for Massachusetts Attorney General again in 1986, this time as a Republican. He lost in the general election to Democrat James Shannon
55% to 45%.
. Harrington was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on September 18, 1987, to a seat vacated by Andrew A. Caffrey
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 19, 1988, and received his commission on February 22, 1988. He assumed senior status
on March 1, 2001.
Judge Harrington received much publicity when he testified for the defense in the murder trial of John J. Connolly a disgraced former FBI agent who was convicted of second degree murder in 2008, in which Connolly was accused of helping James "Whitey" Bulger murder an associate.
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....
.
Early life
Born in Fall River, MassachusettsFall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, Harrington received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in 1955 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School is one of the six professional graduate schools at Boston College. Located approximately 1.5 miles from the main Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, Boston College Law School is situated on a wooded campus in Newton, Massachusetts.With approximately 800 students and...
in 1960. He was 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...
Lieutenant, JAG Corps from 1955 to 1957. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant from 1957 to 1972. 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...
, Hon. Paul C. Reardon, Chief Judge, Massachusetts Superior Court from 1960 to 1961. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts in 1961.
Attorney
He was a Trial attorney of Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice from 1961 to 1965. He was an Assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1965 to 1969. He was in private practice in Taunton, MassachusettsTaunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
in 1969. He was an Attorney-in-charge, U.S. Department of Justice's 'Strike Force' agst. Organized Crime from 1970 to 1973. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1977. In 1974
Massachusetts general election, 1974
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1974 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.The election included:* statewide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;...
he was a candidate for Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
, finishing third in the Democratic Primary. He was the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Massachusetts from 1977 to 1981. He was in private practice in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
from 1981 to 1988. Harrington ran for Massachusetts Attorney General again in 1986, this time as a Republican. He lost in the general election to Democrat James Shannon
James Shannon
James Michael Shannon , also known as Jim Shannon, is a Democratic politician from Massachusetts. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985, and later as the Massachusetts Attorney General....
55% to 45%.
Judge
Harrington was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of MassachusettsUnited States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and until 1813 court session locations...
. Harrington was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on September 18, 1987, to a seat vacated by Andrew A. Caffrey
Andrew Augustine Caffrey
Andrew Augustine Caffrey was a United States federal judge.Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Caffrey received an A.B. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1941, and was in the United States Army Signal Corps, Intelligence Branch, during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. He then received an LL.M....
. 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 February 19, 1988, and received his commission on February 22, 1988. He 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 March 1, 2001.
Judge Harrington received much publicity when he testified for the defense in the murder trial of John J. Connolly a disgraced former FBI agent who was convicted of second degree murder in 2008, in which Connolly was accused of helping James "Whitey" Bulger murder an associate.