Charles Gelbert Neese

Charles Gelbert Neese (October 3, 1916 – October 22, 1989) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Paris, Tennessee, Neese received an LL.B. from Cumberland University in 1936 and read law to enter the bar in 1938. He was in private practice in Paris, Tennessee from 1938 to 1941, serving as a field secretary of U.S. Rep. Herron Pearson from Tennessee from 1940 to 1941, and as an executive assistant and general counsel to the governor for unemployment compensation appeals and traffic and transportation from 1941 to 1944. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Commander towards the end of World War II, in 1945. He returned to private practice in Paris, Tennessee from 1945 to 1946. He was a Public relations representative, Tennessee-Kentucky Chain Store Councils, Paris, Tennessee from 1946 to 1947. He was a campaign manager, Kefauver for U.S. Senate in 1948 and again in 1954. After returning to in private practice in Paris, Tennessee, from 1948 to 1949, he was an Administrative assistant, U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver from Tennessee from 1949 to 1951. He resumed private practice in Paris, Tennessee from 1951 to 1952, and was a Political consultant there in 1952. He was in private practice in Nashville, Tennessee from 1952 to 1961.

On November 20, 1961, Neese received a recess appointment from President John F. Kennedy to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee created by 75 Stat. 80. Formally nominated on January 15, 1962, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 7, 1962, and received his commission on February 17, 1962. He assumed senior status on August 31, 1982. Neese served in that capacity until his death, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sources

• Charles Gelbert Neese at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.