Willis William Ritter (January 24, 1899 – March 4, 1978) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah.

Willis William Ritter
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
In office
1954–1978
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byAldon J. Anderson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
In office
October 21, 1949 – March 4, 1978
Appointed byHarry S. Truman
Preceded byTillman Davis Johnson
Succeeded byBruce Sterling Jenkins
Personal details
Born
Willis William Ritter

(1899-01-24)January 24, 1899
Salt Lake City, Utah
DiedMarch 4, 1978(1978-03-04) (aged 79)
Salt Lake City, Utah
EducationUniversity of Utah (A.B.)
University of Chicago Law School (LL.B.)
Harvard Law School (S.J.D.)

Education and career

edit

Ritter was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Midway, Utah and Park City, Utah.[1] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Chicago Law School in 1924. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. from 1924 to 1926. He was a professor of law at the University of Utah from 1926 to 1950, and in private practice in Salt Lake City from 1935 to 1949, also receiving a Doctor of Juridical Science from Harvard Law School in 1940.[2]

Federal judicial service

edit

On October 21, 1949, Ritter received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Utah vacated by Judge Tillman Davis Johnson. He was formally nominated on January 5, 1950, and opposed during the confirmation process by United States Senator from Utah Arthur Vivian Watkins.[1] Ritter was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 1950, and received his commission on July 7, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1954 until his death on March 4, 1978, in Salt Lake City.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b ""Antics, rulings of irreverent judge propel revealing, if flawed, exposé," Salt Lake Tribune, September 2, 2007".
  2. ^ a b Willis William Ritter at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Sources

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Cowley, Patricia F. and Parker M. Nielson. Thunder Over Zion:The Life of Chief Judge Willis W. Ritter. 2007. ISBN 978-0-87480-876-6
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
1949–1978
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Office established
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
1954–1978
Succeeded by