John P. Fullam
Encyclopedia
John P. Fullam is a judge
on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
. Born in 1921 in Gardenville, Pennsylvania
Judge Fullam graduated from Villanova University
in 1942. From 1942 to 1948 Judge Fullam served in the United States Navy Reserves. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School
in 1948. From 1948 to 1960 he worked in private practice in Bristol, Pennsylvania
. From 1960 to 1966 he was a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1966 President
Lyndon Johnson appointed Fullam to the Eastern District. He served as Chief Judge
from 1986 to 1990, and assumed senior status on April 1, 1990. He has announced plans to step down from the bench on April 15, 2011. During his 45 years on the Federal bench, Fullam presided over such prominent cases as the bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation Company, the largest corporate bankruptcy at that time, and the Abscam political corruption probe
.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. Born in 1921 in Gardenville, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Judge Fullam graduated from Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in 1942. From 1942 to 1948 Judge Fullam served in the United States Navy Reserves. He received his J.D. 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 1948. From 1948 to 1960 he worked in private practice in Bristol, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. From 1960 to 1966 he was a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1966 President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon Johnson appointed Fullam to the Eastern District. He served 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 1986 to 1990, and assumed senior status on April 1, 1990. He has announced plans to step down from the bench on April 15, 2011. During his 45 years on the Federal bench, Fullam presided over such prominent cases as the bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation Company, the largest corporate bankruptcy at that time, and the Abscam political corruption probe
Abscam
Abscam was a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation run from the FBI's Hauppauge, Long Island, office in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
.