John H. Hannah Jr.

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John Henry Hannah Jr.[2] (June 30, 1939 – December 4, 2003) from[3] was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

John H. Hannah Jr.
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office
2001 – December 4, 2003
Preceded byRichard A. Schell
Succeeded byThad Heartfield
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office
March 11, 1994 – December 4, 2003
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded bySeat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Succeeded byMichael H. Schneider Sr.
Secretary of State of Texas
In office
April 15, 1991 – March 1994
GovernorAnn Richards
Preceded byGeorge Bayoud
Succeeded byRon Kirk
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 5th district
In office
January 10, 1967 – January 9, 1973
Preceded bySteve Burgess
Succeeded byHerman Adams, Jr.
Personal details
Born
John Henry Hannah Jr.

(1939-06-30)June 30, 1939
Nacogdoches County, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 4, 2003(2003-12-04) (aged 64)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic[1]
EducationSam Houston State University (BS)
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1958–1961

Early life and education

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Born in Nacogdoches County, Hannah was raised in Diboll, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University in 1966 and attended the University of Houston Law Center and the South Texas College of Law. He did not receive a law degree from either institution and received his law license through self-study.[4]

Career

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Hannah served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1961. He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for the fifth district from 1967 to 1973 and worked in private practice in Lufkin from 1971 to 1973. He was a district attorney in Angelina County from 1973 to 1975 and was legal counsel to Common Cause of Texas in 1975, returning to private practice in Lufkin from 1975 to 1977. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas from 1977 to 1981 and again worked in private practice in Lufkin from 1981 to 1991. He was a secretary of state of Texas from 1991 to 1994.[5] He was a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Federal judicial service

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On November 19, 1993, Hannah was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas created by 104 Stat. 5089. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 1994, and received his commission on March 11, 1994. He served as chief judge from 2001 to 2003.

Personal life

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Hannah died suddenly of a heart attack on December 4, 2003, while attending a judicial conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. His wife, United States Magistrate Judith Guthrie was with him when he died.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "John H. Hannah Jr.'s Obituary on Austin American-Statesman". Legacy.com.
  2. ^ "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. ^ John H. Hannah, Jr. '65 | Office of Alumni Relations | Sam Houston State University Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  4. ^ "Official profile at Texas Lawyers".
  5. ^ "John H. Hannah, Jr. '65 | Office of Alumni Relations | Sam Houston State University". SHSU Online. Retrieved 2022-11-15.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
1994–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
2001–2003
Succeeded by