George MacKinnon
Encyclopedia
George Edward MacKinnon (April 22, 1906 – May 1, 1995) was appointed by President Nixon to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in May 1969, where he served until his death in 1995. Judge MacKinnon is also the father of feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon
.
According to Judge Harry T. Edwards, Judge MacKinnon was "a real character: he was someone who was not easily dissuaded from his positions, who always aimed to get his way, and, yet, who always enjoyed his colleagues and fostered collegiality on the court." Judge MacKinnon was also known as a conservative and once described as "so far right he makes Goldwater
look like George McGovern
," although this may have been hyperbole.
Thomas J. Campbell, who once worked as a clerk for Judge MacKinnon, has written:
MacKinnon attended the University of Colorado at Boulder
from 1923–1924 and received his LL.B. with honors from the University of Minnesota
in 1929. During this time, he also won an All-American rating as center on the Minnesota football teams of 1925–1927, and the Western Conference Medal of 1929.
After graduating MacKinnon was assistant general counsel for the Investor's Syndicate (later known as the Investors Diversified Services) from 1929 to 1942. During this time, he was also a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 29th District (1935–1942) and he served on the Rules Committee and as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He authored and help led the enactment of the 1939 Minnesota State Reorganization Act, and drafted the state Civil Service Law of 1939 and the state Old Age Assistance Law of 1936.
He married Elizabeth Valentine Davis August 20, 1938.
from 1942 to 1946. MacKinnon volunteered for duty and spent his four years with the Atlantic Fleet Air Force, during which time he earned a citation for meritorious services. He was discharged a commander.
MacKinnon was elected as a Republican
to serve as a United States Representative for the Third District of Minnesota to the 80th congress
(January 3, 1947–January 3, 1949), but was defeated when he sought re-election. He served on the Education and Labor Committee.
for the district of Minnesota. MacKinnon successfully prosecuted the first labor case under the Taft-Hartley Act
against Archer Daniels Midland
, Gerald Connelly, and Sidney Brennan in United States v. Gerald Connelly. It was one of the most famous labor racketeering cases in the country.
MacKinnon resigned from the U.S. District Attorney's office in June 1958 to run as the Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota and lost the general election to Orville Freeman
.
MacKinnon then served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1960–1961. During 1960 MacKinnon focused on labor racketeering investigations involving James Hoffa. MacKinnon started the Test Fleet investigation that led to James Hoffa's conviction for perjury.
He was Chief Counsel for Investors Mutual Funds from 1961–1969.
, District of Columbia Circuit
. MacKinnon took senior judge status in May 1983.
During his time as a federal judge he also served as: Presiding Judge for the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court of Review (1979–1982), Presiding Judge for the Special Division of U.S. Court of Appeals for Appointment of Independent Counsels (1985–1992), as a Delegate to the United Nations
Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (1985), and as a member on the United States Sentencing Commission (1985–1991).
Catharine MacKinnon
Catharine Alice MacKinnon is an American feminist, scholar, lawyer, teacher and activist.- Biography :MacKinnon was born in Minnesota. Her mother is Elizabeth Valentine Davis; her father, George E. MacKinnon was a lawyer, congressman , and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit...
.
According to Judge Harry T. Edwards, Judge MacKinnon was "a real character: he was someone who was not easily dissuaded from his positions, who always aimed to get his way, and, yet, who always enjoyed his colleagues and fostered collegiality on the court." Judge MacKinnon was also known as a conservative and once described as "so far right he makes Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
look like George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
," although this may have been hyperbole.
Thomas J. Campbell, who once worked as a clerk for Judge MacKinnon, has written:
- Judge MacKinnon inspired by words. He inspired by his life's deeds. But he inspired most of all by what came to him, naturally. That he'd always introduce himself as George, not Judge. That he would call his wife on his private phone line, so that the government would not have to pay whatever marginal cost one phone call might represent. That he would answer his own phone with such alacrity that clerk or secretary would have to scramble to pick it up on the first ring. That he presided at the marriage, in chambers, of a man he had once prosecuted, convicted, and sent away to prison as U.S. Attorney. That he was loved by Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, and sought the approval of neither to find his own sense of worth.
Place of birth, education and early legislative experience
MacKinnon was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1906, the son of James Alexander Wiley and Cora Blanche (Asselstine) MacKinnon.MacKinnon attended the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
from 1923–1924 and received his LL.B. with honors from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1929. During this time, he also won an All-American rating as center on the Minnesota football teams of 1925–1927, and the Western Conference Medal of 1929.
After graduating MacKinnon was assistant general counsel for the Investor's Syndicate (later known as the Investors Diversified Services) from 1929 to 1942. During this time, he was also a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 29th District (1935–1942) and he served on the Rules Committee and as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He authored and help led the enactment of the 1939 Minnesota State Reorganization Act, and drafted the state Civil Service Law of 1939 and the state Old Age Assistance Law of 1936.
He married Elizabeth Valentine Davis August 20, 1938.
An officer in the U.S. Navy and elected to Congress
MacKinnon served as an officer in the United States NavyUnited 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...
from 1942 to 1946. MacKinnon volunteered for duty and spent his four years with the Atlantic Fleet Air Force, during which time he earned a citation for meritorious services. He was discharged a commander.
MacKinnon was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to serve as a United States Representative for the Third District of Minnesota to the 80th congress
80th 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), but was defeated when he sought re-election. He served on the Education and Labor Committee.
U.S. Attorney and Republican nominee for Governor
From 1953 to 1958, MacKinnon was appointed to be United States AttorneyUnited 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 Minnesota. MacKinnon successfully prosecuted the first labor case under the Taft-Hartley Act
Taft-Hartley Act
The Labor–Management Relations Act is a United States federal law that monitors the activities and power of labor unions. The act, still effective, was sponsored by Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr. and became law by overriding U.S. President Harry S...
against Archer Daniels Midland
Archer Daniels Midland
The Archer Daniels Midland Company is a conglomerate headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. ADM operates more than 270 plants worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide.ADM was named the...
, Gerald Connelly, and Sidney Brennan in United States v. Gerald Connelly. It was one of the most famous labor racketeering cases in the country.
MacKinnon resigned from the U.S. District Attorney's office in June 1958 to run as the Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota and lost the general election to Orville Freeman
Orville Freeman
Orville Lothrop Freeman was an American Democratic politician who served as the 29th Governor of Minnesota from January 5, 1955 to January 2, 1961, and as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson...
.
MacKinnon then served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1960–1961. During 1960 MacKinnon focused on labor racketeering investigations involving James Hoffa. MacKinnon started the Test Fleet investigation that led to James Hoffa's conviction for perjury.
He was Chief Counsel for Investors Mutual Funds from 1961–1969.
Appointment as federal judge
In 1969, President Nixon appointed MacKinnon to the United States Court of AppealsUnited States court of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
, District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
. MacKinnon took senior judge status in May 1983.
During his time as a federal judge he also served as: Presiding Judge for the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
America's Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 is an Act of Congress, , which prescribes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign intelligence information" between "foreign powers" and "agents of foreign powers" America's Foreign Intelligence...
Court of Review (1979–1982), Presiding Judge for the Special Division of U.S. Court of Appeals for Appointment of Independent Counsels (1985–1992), as a Delegate to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (1985), and as a member on the United States Sentencing Commission (1985–1991).