Prentice Marshall
Encyclopedia
Prentice Henry Marshall was a United States District judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
.
, Marshall graduated from Oak Park High School (now Oak Park and River Forest High School
) in 1944 and then served two years in the United States Navy
. Under the G.I. Bill, he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1949. Marshall then earned a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1951.
Marshall then served as a law clerk for Judge Walter C. Lindley
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
from 1951 until 1953.
from 1953 until 1967 at Johnston, Thompson, Raymond & Mayer (which later became known as Jenner & Block
), becoming partner in 1961. While at Jenner, Marshall also served as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois from 1964 until 1967. Marshall also built a reputation for starting Jenner's pro bono legal program. Marshall then served as a law professor at the University of Illinois College of Law from 1967 until 1973 and as a hearing officer for the Illinois Fair Employment Practices Commission from 1967 until 1972.
In 1959, Marshall, then a resident of Wheaton, Illinois
, ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for state's attorney in DuPage County, a Republican stronghold.
nominated Marshall to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
to replace Judge Alexander J. Napoli
, who had died. The United States Senate
confirmed Marshall just 16 days later, on July 13, 1973. Marshall was one of the few Democrats ever nominated to the federal bench by Nixon.
During his tenure on the bench, Marshall became known -- by his own admission -- as an activist judge, ordering the Chicago Police Department
in 1976 to hire women and stop discrimination against black and Hispanic officers. He also ruled in 1982 that the random interrogation of Hispanics by what was then known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service
was unconstitutional.
Perhaps Marshall's best-known case, however, was a 1982 trial that sent the then-president of the Teamsters Union, Roy L. Williams
, to prison for three years. In that case, Williams, Chicago mob boss Joseph Lombardo
and three other defendants -- one of whom, Chicago insurance man Allan Dorfman, was shot to death while out on bond awaiting sentencing -- were found to have conspired to bribe U.S. Sen. Howard Cannon
.
Marshall took senior status
on October 19, 1988, and then retired outright from the federal bench on April 15, 1996.
.
Marshall and his wife sold their house in Wheaton, Illinois
in 1978 and moved to Chicago. They moved to Florida in 1990.
Marshall's wife told the New York Times in 2004 that he once interviewed for the job of commissioner of baseball.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
.
Early life and education
Born in Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
, Marshall graduated from Oak Park High School (now Oak Park and River Forest High School
Oak Park and River Forest High School
Oak Park and River Forest High School, or OPRF, is a public four-year high school located in Oak Park, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the only school of Oak Park and River Forest District 200....
) in 1944 and then served two years in the United States Navy
United 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...
. Under the G.I. Bill, he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1949. Marshall then earned a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1951.
Marshall then served as a law clerk for Judge Walter C. Lindley
Walter C. Lindley
Walter C. Lindley was a United States federal judge.Born in Neoga, Illinois, Lindley received an A.B. and an LL.B. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1904, and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1910. He was in private practice in Danville, Illinois from...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
from 1951 until 1953.
Professional career
A Democrat, Marshall worked in private legal practice in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1953 until 1967 at Johnston, Thompson, Raymond & Mayer (which later became known as Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Approximately 450 attorneys serve a wide range of clients in corporate litigation, business transactions, and in the public sector. Jerold S. Solovy was the longtime Chair of the firm, but on Sept...
), becoming partner in 1961. While at Jenner, Marshall also served as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois from 1964 until 1967. Marshall also built a reputation for starting Jenner's pro bono legal program. Marshall then served as a law professor at the University of Illinois College of Law from 1967 until 1973 and as a hearing officer for the Illinois Fair Employment Practices Commission from 1967 until 1972.
In 1959, Marshall, then a resident of Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for state's attorney in DuPage County, a Republican stronghold.
Federal judicial service
On June 27, 1973, President Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
nominated Marshall to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
to replace Judge Alexander J. Napoli
Alexander J. Napoli
Alexander J. Napoli was a United States federal judge.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Napoli received a Ph.B. from the University of Chicago in 1927 and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1929. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1929 to 1933...
, who had died. 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...
confirmed Marshall just 16 days later, on July 13, 1973. Marshall was one of the few Democrats ever nominated to the federal bench by Nixon.
During his tenure on the bench, Marshall became known -- by his own admission -- as an activist judge, ordering the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
in 1976 to hire women and stop discrimination against black and Hispanic officers. He also ruled in 1982 that the random interrogation of Hispanics by what was then known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
was unconstitutional.
Perhaps Marshall's best-known case, however, was a 1982 trial that sent the then-president of the Teamsters Union, Roy L. Williams
Roy Lee Williams
Roy Lee Williams was an American labor leader who was president of the Teamsters from May 15, 1981, to April 14, 1983.-Early life and career:...
, to prison for three years. In that case, Williams, Chicago mob boss Joseph Lombardo
Joseph Lombardo
Joseph Patrick “Joey the Clown” Lombardo Sr. , also known as "Joe Padula," "Lumbo," and "Lumpy", is an imprisoned American mafioso and a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit crime organization...
and three other defendants -- one of whom, Chicago insurance man Allan Dorfman, was shot to death while out on bond awaiting sentencing -- were found to have conspired to bribe U.S. Sen. Howard Cannon
Howard Cannon
Howard Walter Cannon was an American politician. He served as a United States Senator from Nevada from 1959 until 1983 as a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
.
Marshall 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 19, 1988, and then retired outright from the federal bench on April 15, 1996.
Death
Marshall died of cardiac pulmonary failure and bladder cancer on May 24, 2004 in Ponce Inlet, FloridaPonce Inlet, Florida
Ponce Inlet is a town in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,513 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,178....
.
Personal
Marshall married his high school sweetheart, Lorelei Towle, in 1948. The couple had four children: Prentice Marshall, Jr., Pamela Holcombe, Fred Marshall and Connie Pilato. Lorelei Marshall died in 2005 at age 78.Marshall and his wife sold their house in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
in 1978 and moved to Chicago. They moved to Florida in 1990.
Marshall's wife told the New York Times in 2004 that he once interviewed for the job of commissioner of baseball.