Howard F. Sachs
Encyclopedia
Howard Frederic Sachs is a United States District Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
. He also is a former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
.
, Sachs earned a bachelor's degree from Williams College
in 1947 and a law degree from Harvard Law School
in 1950.
from 1950 until 1951.
Sachs then entered private legal practice in Kansas City, where he worked as a lawyer from 1951 until 1979.
nominated Sachs to a newly created seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
. Sachs was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 25, 1979. Sachs served as that court's chief judge from 1990 until 1992. He took senior status
on October 31, 1992.
nominated Sachs to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
to fill a seat vacated when Judge Floyd Robert Gibson
assumed senior status. However, given that the nomination occurred after the unofficial Thurmond Rule
governing judicial nominations during presidential election years, the Senate never took up Sachs' nomination. President Ronald Reagan
initially brought forth the name of Hallmark Cards
associate general counsel Judith Whittaker (born June 12, 1938) as a nominee to replace Floyd Gibson. However, after it emerged that Whittaker had supported the Equal Rights Amendment
, conservatives opposing her nomination launched a letter-writing campaign objecting to her nomination, and Whittaker eventually withdrew her name from consideration. Reagan ultimately wound up nominating U.S. District Judge John R. Gibson
to the seat in February 1982. Judge John R. Gibson was confirmed on March 4, 1982.
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western half of the State of Missouri...
. He also is a former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
.
Early life and education
Born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Sachs earned a bachelor's degree from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1947 and a law degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1950.
Professional career
Sachs worked as a U.S. Navy Electrical Technician's Mate from 1944 until 1946, and he worked as a law clerk for Judge Albert A. Ridge for the United States District Court for the Western District of MissouriUnited States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western half of the State of Missouri...
from 1950 until 1951.
Sachs then entered private legal practice in Kansas City, where he worked as a lawyer from 1951 until 1979.
Federal judicial service
On May 17, 1979, President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Sachs to a newly created seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western half of the State of Missouri...
. Sachs was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 25, 1979. Sachs served as that court's chief judge from 1990 until 1992. He took 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 31, 1992.
Failed nomination to the Eighth Circuit
On July 29, 1980, President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Sachs to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
to fill a seat vacated when Judge Floyd Robert Gibson
Floyd Robert Gibson
Floyd Robert Gibson was a United States federal judge.Born in Prescott, Arizona, Gibson received an A.B. from the University of Missouri in 1931 and an LL.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1933. He was in private practice in Independence, Missouri from 1933 to 1937...
assumed senior status. However, given that the nomination occurred after the unofficial Thurmond Rule
Thurmond Rule
The Thurmond Rule is an informal and somewhat amorphous rule of thumb in the United States Senate. While it originated with former Senator Strom Thurmond's opposition to President Lyndon Johnson's nomination of Justice Abe Fortas to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in June of 1968, its...
governing judicial nominations during presidential election years, the Senate never took up Sachs' nomination. 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....
initially brought forth the name of Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
associate general counsel Judith Whittaker (born June 12, 1938) as a nominee to replace Floyd Gibson. However, after it emerged that Whittaker had supported the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
, conservatives opposing her nomination launched a letter-writing campaign objecting to her nomination, and Whittaker eventually withdrew her name from consideration. Reagan ultimately wound up nominating U.S. District Judge John R. Gibson
John R. Gibson
John R. Gibson is a senior circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.- Early life and education :...
to the seat in February 1982. Judge John R. Gibson was confirmed on March 4, 1982.