Chief Judge John Biggs, Jr.
Born October 6, 1895, in Wilmington, DE
Died April 15, 1979, in Wilmington, DE
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Nominated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 3, 1937, to a new seat authorized by 49 Stat. 1903.
Confirmed by the Senate on February 10, 1937, and received commission on February 16, 1937.
Served as chief judge, 1948-1965. Assumed senior status on October 30, 1965.
Service terminated on April 15, 1979, due to death.
Other Federal Judicial Service
Referee in Bankruptcy, District of Delaware, 1924-1932
Education
Princeton University, Litt.B., 1918
Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1922
Professional Career
U.S. Army private, Ordnance and Tank Corps, 1917-1918
Private practice, Wilmington, Delaware, 1922-1937
Civilian aide, U.S. Secretary of War, Wilmington, Delaware, 1923-1937
Member, Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, 1939-1948, and Judicial Conference of the United States, 1948-1965
Biographical
Historical Society of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, An Undying Friendship: Judge John Biggs, Jr. and F. Scott Fitzgerald, May 5, 2009. View Online
Collins J. Seitz, John Biggs, Jr., 22 Vill. L. Rev. 584 (1976). View Online
Seymour I. Toll, A Judge Uncommon: A Life of John Biggs, Jr. Philadelphia: Legal Communications, 1993.
Special Ceremonies
United States. Court of Appeals (Third Circuit), Ceremonies in Re: Retirement of Honorable John Biggs, Jr. as Chief Judge and Elevation of Honorable Harry E. Kalodner to Chief Judge, July 10, 1965. View Online
United States. Court of Appeals (Third Circuit), Memorial Session for the Honorable John Biggs, Jr.: Senior Circuit Judge, June 7, 1979. View Online
Oral History
John Biggs Jr., Judge John Biggs, Jr. Interview conducted on August 17, 1976, by Terry L. Birdwhistell. Fred M. Vinson Oral History Project, Special Collections and Archives, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 1976. Audiotape, 50 minutes; transcript. Request Online
Publications
John Biggs, Jr., Commencement Address by John Biggs, Jr., 66 Dick. L. Rev. 373 (1962). View Online
John Biggs, Jr., The Guilty Mind: Psychiatry and the Law of Homicide. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1955.