Samuel H. Bell
Encyclopedia
Samuel H. Bell is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in Rochester, New York
, Bell was the only child of Marie (Willis) Bell and Samuel Bell. The family moved to Akron, Ohio
, where Bell attended Buchtel High School before going to the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio
. He graduated from Wooster and married Joyce Shaw. They had two children, Henry Wade Bell (born July 7, 1950) and Steven Dennis Bell (born February 11, 1953). Bell pursued post-graduate studies at American University
in Washington, D.C.
and obtained his J.D.
from the University of Akron School of Law
in 1952.
He was admitted to the bar of the State of Ohio
and became an Assistant County Prosecutor in Summit County, Ohio
. He then entered the private practice of law in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
from 1956 to 1968. During this time he was an assistant county prosecutor for Summit County, Ohio
from 1957 to 1959, and special counsel for the attorney general of the State of Ohio from 1959 to 1966. He was also an assistant solicitor and special trial counsel for the City of Tallmadge, Ohio
from 1963 to 1965. In 1968 Bell was appointed by Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes
to a vacancy on the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court. He later was elected to that post, holding it until 1973. He then ran for and was elected to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas for Summit County from 1973 to 1977. He was then appointed to the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and later was elected to that position, until 1982.
In 1982 he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He sat in Cleveland, Ohio
and then later in Akron. He retired from the bench in 1995.
Bell was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on November 23, 1982, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
vacated by Robert B. Krupansky
. Bell was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 21, 1982, and received his commission the following day. He assumed senior status
on October 30, 1996. He died in Akron, Ohio on December 23, 2010.
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....
.
Born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Bell was the only child of Marie (Willis) Bell and Samuel Bell. The family moved to Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, where Bell attended Buchtel High School before going to the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio
Wooster, Ohio
Wooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately SSW of Cleveland and SW of Akron. Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster...
. He graduated from Wooster and married Joyce Shaw. They had two children, Henry Wade Bell (born July 7, 1950) and Steven Dennis Bell (born February 11, 1953). Bell pursued post-graduate studies at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and obtained 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 Akron School of Law
University of Akron School of Law
The University of Akron School of Law is the law school at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, USA. Offering both the J.D. and LL.M. degrees, it was founded in 1921 as the Akron School of Law and merged with the University of Akron in 1959, becoming fully accredited by the American Bar...
in 1952.
He was admitted to the bar of the State of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and became an Assistant County Prosecutor in Summit County, Ohio
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
. He then entered the private practice of law in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
from 1956 to 1968. During this time he was an assistant county prosecutor for Summit County, Ohio
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
from 1957 to 1959, and special counsel for the attorney general of the State of Ohio from 1959 to 1966. He was also an assistant solicitor and special trial counsel for the City of Tallmadge, Ohio
Tallmadge, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,390 people, 6,273 households, and 4,711 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,173.9 people per square mile . There were 6,494 housing units at an average density of 465.1 per square mile...
from 1963 to 1965. In 1968 Bell was appointed by Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes
Jim Rhodes
James Allen Rhodes was an American Republican politician from Ohio, and one of only five US state governors to serve four four-year terms in office. As governor in 1970, he decided to send National Guard troops onto the Kent State University campus, resulting in the shooting of students on May 4...
to a vacancy on the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court. He later was elected to that post, holding it until 1973. He then ran for and was elected to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas for Summit County from 1973 to 1977. He was then appointed to the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and later was elected to that position, until 1982.
In 1982 he was appointed by 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....
to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He sat in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and then later in Akron. He retired from the bench in 1995.
Bell was nominated by 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....
on November 23, 1982, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
vacated by Robert B. Krupansky
Robert B. Krupansky
Robert B. Krupansky was a United States federal judge.Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Krupansky was in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. He received a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University in 1946, and an LL.B. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1948. He was a...
. Bell 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 December 21, 1982, and received his commission the following day. 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 October 30, 1996. He died in Akron, Ohio on December 23, 2010.