Harold Lyman Ryan
Encyclopedia
Harold Lyman Ryan served as a federal judge
on the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
.
, Ryan graduated from Weiser High School in 1941, and attended the University of Idaho from 1941 to 1943 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Washington
under the V-12 Navy College Training Program
, completed midshipmen's school
at the University of Notre Dame
, and graduated with a commission as an Ensign in 1944. Ryan then served the remainder of World War II
in the Pacific Theater aboard the U.S.S. Merrick
.
Ryan returned to the University of Idaho in 1946 and entered the College of Law, graduating in January of 1950. He was admitted to the Idaho State Bar
in 1950, and returned to Weiser to practice law with his father, Frank D. Ryan. Ryan served as a Deputy County Prosecutor
in Washington County, Idaho
from 1951 to 1952, and was elected to serve as the Washington County Senator
in the Idaho Legislature
from 1963 to 1966. While in the Senate, Ryan took a particular interest in modernizing the Idaho judiciary and served as Chairman of the Joint Commission of the Idaho Legislature which instituted sweeping reform by reorganizing and modernizing the state judicial system, creating a court administration, and forming the Idaho Judicial Council. He also served as President of the Idaho State Bar from 1967 to 1969.
After serving as campaign director for U.S. Senator James McClure
, McClure recommended Ryan to President Ronald Reagan
to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
vacated by Raymond C. McNichols. Reagan appointed Ryan on December 7, 1981, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 16, 1981. Ryan served a term as Chief Judge
from 1988 to 1992, and assumed senior status on December 30, 1992. His service on the federal bench termination upon his death from cancer on April 10, 1995.
In the spring of 1993, Ryan ruled in favor of the state of Idaho in its long-running dispute with the United States
government over storage of nuclear waste at the Idaho National Laboratory
. As a consequence, the U.S. government significantly reduced the amount of low-level nuclear waste shipped to Idaho.
, a public domain
publication of the Federal Judicial Center
.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
United States District Court for the District of Idaho
The United States District Court for the District of Idaho is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Idaho...
.
Education and career history
Born in Weiser, IdahoWeiser, Idaho
Weiser is a city in the rural western part of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Washington County. With its mild climate, the city supports farm, orchard, and livestock endeavors in the vicinity. The city sits at the confluence of the Weiser River with the great Snake River, which...
, Ryan graduated from Weiser High School in 1941, and attended the University of Idaho from 1941 to 1943 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
under the V-12 Navy College Training Program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
, completed midshipmen's school
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and graduated with a commission as an Ensign in 1944. Ryan then served the remainder of 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...
in the Pacific Theater aboard the U.S.S. Merrick
USS Merrick (AKA-97)
USS Merrick was an named after Merrick County, Nebraska.Merrick was laid down as Maritime Commission hull 219, on 19 October 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, launched on 28 January 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Francis N. Van Riper, acquired on 30 March and...
.
Ryan returned to the University of Idaho in 1946 and entered the College of Law, graduating in January of 1950. He was admitted to the Idaho State Bar
State bar association
A state bar association is a bar association that represents or seeks to represent all of the attorneys in a specific U.S. state. Membership in such an association may be voluntary or mandatory for practitioners in that state. State bar associations may be tasked with the administration of the...
in 1950, and returned to Weiser to practice law with his father, Frank D. Ryan. Ryan served as a Deputy County Prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
in Washington County, Idaho
Washington County, Idaho
Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. Established in 1879 when Idaho was a territory, it was named after U.S. president George Washington. As of the 2000 Census, the county had a population of 9,977; it is estimated to have risen to 10,147 by 2007...
from 1951 to 1952, and was elected to serve as the Washington County Senator
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
in the Idaho Legislature
Idaho Legislature
The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...
from 1963 to 1966. While in the Senate, Ryan took a particular interest in modernizing the Idaho judiciary and served as Chairman of the Joint Commission of the Idaho Legislature which instituted sweeping reform by reorganizing and modernizing the state judicial system, creating a court administration, and forming the Idaho Judicial Council. He also served as President of the Idaho State Bar from 1967 to 1969.
After serving as campaign director for U.S. Senator James McClure
James McClure
James McClure may refer to:*James H. McClure, British crime author and journalist, born in South Africa*James A. McClure, former U.S. Senator from Idaho*James McClure , current local councillor and former regional assembly member...
, McClure recommended Ryan to 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....
to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
United States District Court for the District of Idaho
The United States District Court for the District of Idaho is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Idaho...
vacated by Raymond C. McNichols. Reagan appointed Ryan on December 7, 1981, and 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 December 16, 1981. Ryan served a term as Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 1988 to 1992, and assumed senior status on December 30, 1992. His service on the federal bench termination upon his death from cancer on April 10, 1995.
Notable cases
In the mid 1980s, Ryan ruled in favor of inmate Walter "Bud" Balla and others that conditions in the state prison violated their constitutional rights. He imposed a cap on inmate population which necessitated the construction of a new maximum security facility.In the spring of 1993, Ryan ruled in favor of the state of Idaho in its long-running dispute with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government over storage of nuclear waste at the Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is an complex located in the high desert of eastern Idaho, between the town of Arco to the west and the cities of Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east. It lies within Butte, Bingham, Bonneville and Jefferson counties...
. As a consequence, the U.S. government significantly reduced the amount of low-level nuclear waste shipped to Idaho.
External links
Harold Lyman Ryan at the Biographical Directory of Federal JudgesBiographical Directory of Federal Judges
The Biographical Directory of Federal Judges is a publication of the Federal Judicial Center providing basic biographical information on all past and present United States federal court Article III judges ....
, a public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
publication of the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
.