Douglas Woodruff Hillman Explained

Douglas Woodruff Hillman
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Term Start:February 15, 1991
Term End:October 1, 2002
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Term Start1:1986
Term End1:1991
Predecessor1:Wendell Alverson Miles
Successor1:Benjamin F. Gibson
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Term Start2:September 26, 1979
Term End2:February 15, 1991
Appointer2:Jimmy Carter
Predecessor2:Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629
Successor2:David McKeague
Birth Name:Douglas Woodruff Hillman
Birth Date:15 February 1922
Birth Place:Grand Rapids, Michigan
Death Place:Muskegon, Michigan
Education:University of Michigan (AB)
University of Michigan Law School (LLB)

Douglas Woodruff Hillman (February 15, 1922 – February 1, 2007) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Education and career

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Hillman was a lieutenant in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945. He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Michigan in 1946, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948. He was then in private practice in Grand Rapids until 1979.

Federal judicial service

On July 12, 1979, Hillman was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 25, 1979, and received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 1986 to 1991, assuming senior status on February 15, 1991. Hillman served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on October 1, 2002.

Death

Hillman died on February 1, 2007, in Muskegon, Michigan.