Theodore Levin
Encyclopedia
Theodore Levin was a was a prominent immigration lawyer and United States federal judge
who served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1946 until his death in 1970.
, though his family lived in London
, Ontario
Canada
from 1905 to 1913. After that, Joseph and Ida Levin brought their eight children back to the United States and settled in Detroit
, Michigan
. Levin received a LL.B.
from University of Detroit School of Law
in 1920, and an LL.M.
from the same institution in 1924. He was in private practice of law with his brother Saul in Detroit from 1920 to 1946.
In the 1930s, Levin was part of a group of immigration lawyers who opposed the Michigan Alien Registration and Fingerprinting Act. He was a member of the executive board of the National Refugees Service Administration and an officer of the Michigan Commission on Displaced Persons.
In 1933, Levin was appointed special assistant attorney general in an investigation into the Michigan Bank Holiday
and from 1944 to 1946, he served as a member of the Selective Service Appeal Board
.
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan vacated by Edward Julien Moinet
. Levin was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 25, 1946, and received his commission on July 27, 1946. He served as chief judge of the court from 1959 to 1967, and thereafter served until his death.
During his tenure as a federal judge, Levin advocated the creation of the Sentencing Council
, which proposed reforms and standards for criminal sentences imposed in federal courts. This sentencing council was widely copied in other US District Courts. In 1995, the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse
in Detroit was named in his memory.
He was affiliated with the Jewish Welfare Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the United Jewish Charities of Detroit, the Jewish Social Service Bureau, the Resettlement Service, the Detroit Round Table of Catholics, Jews and Protestants, and, the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry
.
served as a Michigan Supreme Court
justice from 1973 to 1996. Another son, Joseph Levin, was a candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in 1974, and a third son, Daniel Levin, is a real estate developer in Chicago. His daughter Mimi Levin Lieber served on the New York State Board of Regents
. His nephew Carl Levin
is a U.S. senator
and his nephew Sander Levin is a U.S. representative in Michigan's 12th District.
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....
who served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1946 until his death in 1970.
Early life and career
Levin was born in Chicago, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, though his family lived in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1905 to 1913. After that, Joseph and Ida Levin brought their eight children back to the United States and settled in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Levin received a LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from University of Detroit School of Law
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
in 1920, and an LL.M.
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from the same institution in 1924. He was in private practice of law with his brother Saul in Detroit from 1920 to 1946.
In the 1930s, Levin was part of a group of immigration lawyers who opposed the Michigan Alien Registration and Fingerprinting Act. He was a member of the executive board of the National Refugees Service Administration and an officer of the Michigan Commission on Displaced Persons.
In 1933, Levin was appointed special assistant attorney general in an investigation into the Michigan Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
and from 1944 to 1946, he served as a member of the Selective Service Appeal Board
Selective Service System
The Selective Service System is a means by which the United States government maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription. Most male U.S. citizens and male immigrant non-citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to have registered within 30 days of...
.
Federal judicial service
On July 3, 1946, Levin was nominated by President Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan vacated by Edward Julien Moinet
Edward Julien Moinet
Edward Julien Moinet was a United States federal judge.Born in Louisville, Ohio, Moinet received an LL.B. from the University of Michigan in 1895. He was in private practice in Ithaca, Michigan from 1895 to 1899, and in St. Johns, Michigan from 1899 to 1913. He was a prosecuting attorney of St....
. Levin 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 July 25, 1946, and received his commission on July 27, 1946. He served as chief judge of the court from 1959 to 1967, and thereafter served until his death.
During his tenure as a federal judge, Levin advocated the creation of the Sentencing Council
Sentencing Council
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales was established in April 2010, replacing the Sentencing Guidelines Council and the Sentencing Advisory Panel, its predecessor bodies....
, which proposed reforms and standards for criminal sentences imposed in federal courts. This sentencing council was widely copied in other US District Courts. In 1995, the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse
Theodore Levin United States Courthouse
The Theodore Levin United States Courthouse is a large high-rise courthouse and office building located at 231 West Lafayette Boulevard in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. The building is named after the late Theodore Levin, a lawyer and United States District Court judge...
in Detroit was named in his memory.
He was affiliated with the Jewish Welfare Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the United Jewish Charities of Detroit, the Jewish Social Service Bureau, the Resettlement Service, the Detroit Round Table of Catholics, Jews and Protestants, and, the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Personal life
Levin was married to Rhoda Katzin of Chicago. Their son Charles LevinCharles Levin
Charles Leonard Levin was a Michigan jurist. He served as a Michigan Court of Appeals judge from 1966 to 1972 and as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1973 to 1996. He attended the University of Michigan where he received his B.A. in 1946 and his LL.B...
served as a Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
justice from 1973 to 1996. Another son, Joseph Levin, was a candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1974, and a third son, Daniel Levin, is a real estate developer in Chicago. His daughter Mimi Levin Lieber served on the New York State Board of Regents
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
. His nephew Carl Levin
Carl Levin
Carl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
is a U.S. senator
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...
and his nephew Sander Levin is a U.S. representative in Michigan's 12th District.