John Milton Bryan Simpson Explained

John Milton Bryan Simpson
Office:Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Term Start:October 1, 1981
Term End:August 22, 1987
Office1:Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Term Start1:June 30, 1975
Term End1:October 1, 1981
Office2:Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Term Start2:November 3, 1966
Term End2:June 30, 1975
Appointer2:Lyndon B. Johnson
Predecessor2:Seat established by 80 Stat. 75
Successor2:Gerald Bard Tjoflat
Office3:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Term Start3:1962
Term End3:1966
Predecessor3:Office established
Successor3:Joseph Patrick Lieb
Office4:Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Term Start4:October 29, 1962
Term End4:November 22, 1966
Appointer4:operation of law
Predecessor4:Seat established by 76 Stat. 247
Successor4:Ben Krentzman
Office5:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Term Start5:1961
Term End5:1962
Predecessor5:George William Whitehurst
Successor5:David W. Dyer
Office6:Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Term Start6:September 26, 1950
Term End6:October 29, 1962
Appointer6:Harry S. Truman
Predecessor6:Louie Willard Strum
Successor6:Seat abolished
Birth Name:John Milton Bryan Simpson
Birth Date:30 May 1903
Birth Place:Kissimmee, Florida
Death Place:Jacksonville, Florida
Education:Fredric G. Levin College of Law (LLB)

John Milton Bryan Simpson (May 30, 1903 – August 22, 1987) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Education and career

Born in Kissimmee, Florida, Simpson served in the United States Army, as a 1st Lt., in the European Theater from 1943 to 1945. Received a Bachelor of Laws from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in 1926. He was in private practice of law in Jacksonville, Florida from 1926 to 1946. He was an assistant state's attorney of the Fourth Florida Circuit from 1933 to 1939. He was a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County, Florida from 1939 to 1943. He was a United States Army First Lieutenant from 1943 to 1945. He was a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County from 1945 to 1946. He was a Circuit Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida from 1946 to 1950.

Federal judicial service

Simpson was nominated by President Harry S Truman on September 14, 1950, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida vacated by Judge Louie Willard Strum. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 23, 1950, and received his commission on September 26, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1962. He was reassigned by operation of law on October 29, 1962 to the newly created United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, to a seat established by 76 Stat. 247. He served as Chief Judge from 1962 to 1966. His service was terminated on November 22, 1966, due to elevation to the Fifth Circuit.

Simpson was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 11, 1966, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966, and received his commission on November 3, 1966. He assumed senior status on June 30, 1975. He was reassigned by operation of law on October 1, 1981, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His service was terminated on August 22, 1987, due to his death.

Notable case

Simpson was noted for his legal decisions during the civil rights demonstrations in St. Augustine, Florida that led directly to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Honor

The John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville in named in his honor.

External links