Robert James McNichols

Robert James McNichols (April 19, 1922 – December 20, 1992) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.[1]

Robert James McNichols
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office April 20, 1991 – January 20, 1993
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office 1980–1989
Preceded by	Marshall Allen Neill
Succeeded by	Justin Lowe Quackenbush
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office December 10, 1979 – April 20, 1991
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629
Succeeded by	William Fremming Nielsen
Personal details
Born	Robert James McNichols April 19, 1922 Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Died	December 20, 1992 (aged 70) Spokane, Washington
Resting place	St. Thomas Cemetery Coeur d'Alene
Relatives	Raymond Clyne McNichols
Education	Gonzaga University School of Law (LLB)

Education and career

Born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, McNichols was in the United States Army during World War II, from 1940 to 1941 and from 1943 to 1946. He attended Washington State College in Pullman, Washington and the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. Following his first year as a law student in 1949, he worked for the Spokane Stock Exchange as a quotation clerk,[2] and received a Bachelor of Laws from Gonzaga in 1952. McNichols was a law clerk to Washington Supreme Court Justice Edward Schaellenback in 1952. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney of Spokane County from 1953 to 1954,[3] and was in private practice in Spokane with the firm of Winston and Cashatt for 24 years, from 1955 to 1979.[4]

Federal judicial service

McNichols was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on November 6, 1979, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, to a new seat created earlier that year by 92 Stat. 1629.[5][6] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 5, 1979 and received his commission on December 10, 1979, and was sworn in on January 4, 1980.[7] He was Chief Judge from 1980 to 1989, and assumed senior status on April 20, 1991. He served in that capacity for twenty months, until his death from lung cancer in Spokane on December 20, 1992.[1] He is buried in Idaho at the St. Thomas Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene.

Family

McNichols' older brother Raymond Clyne McNichols (1914–1985) was also a federal judge, in Idaho.[8][9] During his investiture to the federal bench in January 1980, the elder swore the younger in.[7]

References

1. Morlin, Bill (December 22, 1992). "District Court Judge Robert McNichols dies". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B1.
2. "Exchange hires quotation clerk". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. July 11, 1949. p. 17.
3. "Potratz quits as Evans' aide". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. December 20, 1952. p. 1.
4. Levenson, Bob (November 30, 1979). "Confirmation expected". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Medill News Service. p. 13.
5. Harrison, John (November 6, 1979). "McNichols named federal judge". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 1.
6. Harrison, John (November 7, 1979). "McNichols named judge". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 48.
7. Sallquist, Bill (January 5, 1980). "McNichols on federal bench". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. p. 3.
8. "A tale of two judges, brothers under robes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. July 11, 1981. p. 3.
9. "Judge takes over case from brother who died". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. June 5, 1986. p. A12.

External links

• Robert James McNichols at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Robert James McNichols at Find a Grave