Bernard J. Leddy

Bernard Joseph Leddy (March 18, 1910 – January 9, 1972) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Underhill, Vermont, Leddy received his A.B. from St. Michael's College in 1931, and an LL.B. from Boston College Law School in 1934. He was an Alderman of the City of Burlington from 1935 to 1940. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont from 1940 to 1954.

He was the 1958 Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont. At a time when Vermont was overwhelmingly Republican, Leddy lost to Robert Stafford by only 719 votes (50.3% to 49.7%). Leddy's strong showing in the governor's race, coupled with the win of Democrat William H. Meyer in the election for Vermont's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, was an indicator that the state's Democrats were growing in strength after more than 100 years of Republican dominance in statewide elections.

Leddy was a civilian aide for the U.S. Secretary of the Army from 1962 to 1966.

On August 16, 1966, Leddy was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 25, 1966, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1969 until his death on January 9, 1972. Leddy died at his Burlington home after suffering a heart attack, and is buried at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.

His son James P. Leddy was a member of the Vermont State Senate. His daughter Johannah Leddy Donovan has served in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2001. His grandson T. J. Donovan currently serves as State's Attorney for Chittenden County.

A park in Burlington is named in his honor.

Sources

• Bernard J. Leddy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• Bernard J. Leddy at Find a Grave