Francis Ryan Duffy (June 23, 1888 – August 16, 1979) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist from Wisconsin. He served 45 years in federal office, as a United States senator, United States district judge, and finally judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was also chief judge of the Seventh Circuit from 1954 through 1959.

F. Ryan Duffy
Duffy in 1938
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office
June 30, 1966 – August 16, 1979
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office
September 1, 1954 – August 6, 1959
Preceded byJames Earl Major
Succeeded byJohn Simpson Hastings
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office
February 2, 1949 – June 30, 1966
Appointed byHarry S. Truman
Preceded byEvan Alfred Evans
Succeeded byThomas E. Fairchild
United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
In office
June 29, 1939 – February 2, 1949
Appointed byFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byFerdinand August Geiger
Succeeded byRobert Emmet Tehan
United States Senator
from Wisconsin
In office
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939
Preceded byJohn J. Blaine
Succeeded byAlexander Wiley
Personal details
Born
Francis Ryan Duffy

(1888-06-23)June 23, 1888
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedAugust 16, 1979(1979-08-16) (aged 91)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Fond du Lac
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA)
University of Wisconsin Law School (LLB)
ProfessionLawyer

Education and career

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Born on June 23, 1888, in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Duffy attended the public schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1910 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Bachelor of Laws in 1912 from the University of Wisconsin Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1912. He was in private practice of law in Fond du Lac from 1912 to 1917, from 1919 to 1933, and in 1939. He served in the United States Army during World War I from 1917 to 1919, attaining the rank of Major. He was United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1933 to 1939.[1][2][3]

Congressional service

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Duffy was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1939. He served during the 73rd, 74th and 75th United States Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1938. Following his departure from the Senate, he briefly resumed the private practice of law.[2]

Federal judicial service

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Duffy was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 21, 1939, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin vacated by Judge Ferdinand August Geiger. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 26, 1939, and received his commission on June 29, 1939. His service terminated on February 2, 1949, due to his elevation to the Seventh Circuit.[1]

Duffy was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on January 13, 1949, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Evan Alfred Evans. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1949, and received his commission on February 2, 1949.[1] He was sworn in on February 14, 1949.[4] He served as Chief Judge and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1954 to 1959.[5] He assumed senior status on June 30, 1966. His service terminated upon his death.[1]

Death

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Duffy died on August 16, 1979, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He is interred at Calvary Cemetery in Fond du Lac.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Francis Ryan Duffy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ a b c United States Congress. "F. Ryan Duffy (id: D000518)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. ^ Duffy biodata Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Duffy Sworn in as Appeals Judge". The Rhinelander Daily News. February 15, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved September 4, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit" (PDF). United States Courts. July 14, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.

Sources

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Party political offices
Preceded by
Thomas M. Kearney
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
(Class 3)

1932, 1938
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin
1933–1939
Served alongside: Robert M. La Follette Jr.
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
1939–1949
Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
1949–1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
1954–1959
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Most senior living United States senator (Sitting or former)
January 14, 1978 – August 16, 1979
Succeeded by