John Feikens (born December 3, 1917) is a politician and judge from the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and is currently Senior Judge,
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MichiganThe United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
(1986-present). Feikens had the unusual honor of being nominated to the same district court by three consecutive presidents.
Feikens was born in
Clifton, New JerseyClifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 78,672....
. He later resided in
Grosse Pointe, MichiganGrosse Pointe is a suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city covers just over one square mile, and had a population of 5,670 at the 2000 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe...
. He was educated at
Calvin CollegeCalvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
, receiving a
B.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....
in 1939, followed by a
J.D.Juris Doctor is a first professional degree.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century as a degree similar to the old European doctor of law degree...
from the
University of Michigan Law SchoolThe University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1941. He practiced law in
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
from 1942-1960 and 1961-1970.
He worked in the priorities and war allocations department of the Detrex Corporation, in
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
from 1942 to 1946. He entered the private practice of law in Detroit in 1946. He was an alternate delegate to the
1952 Republican National ConventionThe 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
, a delegate to the
1956 conventionThe 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
, and an alternate delegate in
1960The 1960 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre....
. He served as chairman of the
Michigan Republican PartyThe Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party.-Current elected Republicans in Michigan:...
from 1953 to 1957 and was a member of the
Republican National CommitteeThe Republican National Committee provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is also responsible for organizing and...
in 1954.
Feikens was first nominated to the bench by President
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army and the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. During the Second World War, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, with responsibility for planning and supervising the...
. On October 13, 1960, Feikens received a
recess appointmentA recess appointment occurs when the President of the United States fills a vacant federal position, of a sufficiently senior level that the nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, while the Senate is in recess...
from Eisenhower to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of MichiganThe United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
vacated by
Clifford Patrick O'SullivanClifford Patrick O'Sullivan was a United States federal judge.O'Sullivan was born in Chicago, Illinois. He received an LL.B. from Notre Dame Law School in 1920. He was in private practice in Port Huron, Michigan from 1920 to 1924. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1924 to 1926...
. Eisenhower formally nominated Feikens to the position on January 10, 1961, but the
United States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution . Each U.S state is represented by two senators,...
did not confirm him, due largely to the opposition of Senator
McNamaraPatrick Vincent McNamara was a Democratic United States Senator from the state of Michigan....
of Michigan. Feikens initial term of service was therefore terminated on September 27, 1961.
He was nominated again by
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, but the president withdrew the nomination. His third and final nomination came from Richard M. Nixon, on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. By this time, McNamara had died, and Feiken was confirmed by the
United States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution . Each U.S state is represented by two senators,...
on November 25, 1970, and received his commission on December 1, 1970. He served as Chief Judge from 1979 to 1986, and became a
Senior JudgeSenior Service is a nickname of the Royal Navy, and can refer to:* The Royal Navy* Senior Service : a cigarette brand using the nickname* Service by a United States federal judge in senior status...
on March 1, 1986, continuing to serve in that position to the present.
Professional associations, civic and other activities
- Director of the Detroit Bar Association in (1962-1967), president 1967
- Member of the American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
- Trustee to the Detroit Bar Association Foundation
- State Bar of Michigan
The State Bar of Michigan is an organization of lawyers in the State of Michigan. Membership was mandatory for attorneys who practice law in the state until the repeal of the State Bar of Michigan by Public Act 236 of 1961...
Commissioner (1965-1971)
- Member of Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers
- Director of the Economic Club of Detroit
- Co-Chairman, Michigan Civil Rights Commission, (1964-1968)
- Board of Trustees, New Detroit, Inc. (1968-1970)
- Board of Trustees, Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
(1968-1974)
- University of Michigan Club
- Committee of Visitors, University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
- Director, Economic Club of Detroit