Richard Paul Matsch
Encyclopedia
Richard Paul Matsch is a retired United States federal judge
.
Matsch was born in Burlington, Iowa
. He earned his A.B.
from the University of Michigan
in 1951, and his J.D.
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1953. He served in the United States Army
from 1953 to 1955. He was an attorney in private practice in Denver, Colorado
from 1956 to 1959. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Colorado
from 1959 to 1961. He was a deputy city attorney
of City and County of Denver, Colorado from 1961 to 1963. He was in private practice in Denver, Colorado
from 1963 to 1965. He was a Referee in bankruptcy, District of Colorado from 1965 to 1973, and thereafter served as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
for the District of Colorado during 1973-1974.
Matsch was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
. Matsch was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon on January 31, 1974, to a seat vacated by Olin H. Chilson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 1, 1974, and received his commission on March 8, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1994–2000, during which time he presided over the trial of Oklahoma City bombing
defendants Timothy McVeigh
and Terry Nichols
. He assumed senior status
on July 1, 2003.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Matsch was born in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. He earned his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
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...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1951, and his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Michigan Law School
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...
in 1953. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1953 to 1955. He was an attorney in private practice in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from 1956 to 1959. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Colorado
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Colorado. The United States Congress organized Colorado as a single judicial district on June 26, 1876, by 19 Stat. 61...
from 1959 to 1961. He was a deputy city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
of City and County of Denver, Colorado from 1961 to 1963. He was in private practice in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from 1963 to 1965. He was a Referee in bankruptcy, District of Colorado from 1965 to 1973, and thereafter served as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
for the District of Colorado during 1973-1974.
Matsch was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Colorado. The United States Congress organized Colorado as a single judicial district on June 26, 1876, by 19 Stat. 61...
. Matsch was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon on January 31, 1974, to a seat vacated by Olin H. Chilson. 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 March 1, 1974, and received his commission on March 8, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1994–2000, during which time he presided over the trial of Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
defendants Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
and Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols
Terry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
. He assumed 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 July 1, 2003.