William Clark (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Clark was a United States federal judge
.
Clark was born on February 1, 1891 in Newark, New Jersey
. His father, John William Clark, was president of the Clark Thread Company of Newark. (Clark Thread Co. later merged with J. & P. Coats to become Coats & Clark Inc.) His mother, Margaretta Cameron Clark, was the daughter of United States Senator
J. Donald Cameron
. He earned successive degrees at Harvard University
, starting with a B.A.
at the age of 20 in 1911, followed by an M.A.
a year later, and finally an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
in 1915. Two years later, when the United States declared war, he joined the U.S. Army
, where he stayed until 1918.
Clark married Marjory Blair, daughter of investment banker C. Ledyard Blair
, on September 20, 1913. Eight hundred guests were invited to the celebration at the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
, not far from the Clark family's own estate, Peachcroft. Their daughter Anne was born on July 18, 1914. Anne Clark Martindell
would go on to serve in the New Jersey Senate
and as United States Ambassador to New Zealand
. Their son Ledyard Blair Clark
was born on August 22, 1917 and would become a prominent journalist and Democratic Party
activist.
In 1920, Clark started out the practice of law in Newark, which lasted a bare four years before he became a judge of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals in 1923. He was only a state judge for one year. On May 21, 1925, he received a recess appointment
from President Calvin Coolidge
to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate
later that year.
On June 10, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
nominated Clark for elevation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
. He was confirmed on June 16 and joined the court on June 25.
On March 24, 1943, Clark resigned his judgeship and became a full-time member of the United States Army
, this time as part of World War II
. This lasted until the war's conclusion in 1945.
After Clark's first marriage ended in divorce, he married Sonia Tomara, a foreign correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune
, on October 4, 1947 in Paris
.
In 1949, Clark became the chief justice of the Allied High Commission
Court of Appeals in Nuremberg
, Germany
. He stayed in this position until 1954. He died three years later, on October 10, 1957.
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....
.
Clark was born on February 1, 1891 in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. His father, John William Clark, was president of the Clark Thread Company of Newark. (Clark Thread Co. later merged with J. & P. Coats to become Coats & Clark Inc.) His mother, Margaretta Cameron Clark, was the daughter of United States 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...
J. Donald Cameron
J. Donald Cameron
James Donald Cameron was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as Secretary of War under Ulysses S. Grant and in the United States Senate for twenty years....
. He earned successive degrees at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, starting with a B.A.
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...
at the age of 20 in 1911, followed by an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
a year later, and finally an LL.B. 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 1915. Two years later, when the United States declared war, he joined the U.S. 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...
, where he stayed until 1918.
Clark married Marjory Blair, daughter of investment banker C. Ledyard Blair
C. Ledyard Blair
Clinton Ledyard Blair was a prominent American investment banker and yachtsman.Blair was the grandson of John Insley Blair, one of the wealthiest men of the 19th century, and the son of DeWitt Clinton Blair and Mary Anna Kimball Blair...
, on September 20, 1913. Eight hundred guests were invited to the celebration at the Blairsden Mansion in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey
Peapack and Gladstone is a borough in Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,582...
, not far from the Clark family's own estate, Peachcroft. Their daughter Anne was born on July 18, 1914. Anne Clark Martindell
Anne Clark Martindell
Anne Clark Martindell was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, as well as a diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to New Zealand from 1979 to 1981.-Early life and family:...
would go on to serve in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and as United States Ambassador to New Zealand
United States Ambassador to New Zealand
The United States has maintained a consular presence in New Zealand since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. In 1838 he was appointed by the federal government of the...
. Their son Ledyard Blair Clark
Blair Clark
Ledyard Blair Clark was a liberal journalist and political activist who played key roles both as a journalist and a political operator. He was general manager and vice president of CBS News from 1961 to 1964, and later became editor of The Nation magazine...
was born on August 22, 1917 and would become a prominent journalist and Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
activist.
In 1920, Clark started out the practice of law in Newark, which lasted a bare four years before he became a judge of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals in 1923. He was only a state judge for one year. On May 21, 1925, he received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. His appointment was confirmed by the 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...
later that year.
On June 10, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
nominated Clark for elevation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
. He was confirmed on June 16 and joined the court on June 25.
On March 24, 1943, Clark resigned his judgeship and became a full-time member of 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...
, this time as part of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This lasted until the war's conclusion in 1945.
After Clark's first marriage ended in divorce, he married Sonia Tomara, a foreign correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
, on October 4, 1947 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1949, Clark became the chief justice of the Allied High Commission
Allied High Commission
The Allied High Commission was established by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and France after the 1948 breakdown of the Allied Control Council to regulate and supervise the development of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany The Allied High Commission (also known...
Court of Appeals in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He stayed in this position until 1954. He died three years later, on October 10, 1957.