Philip Nichols Jr.

Philip Nichols, Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
In office October 1, 1983 – January 26, 1990
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
In office October 1, 1982 – October 1, 1983
Appointed by	Assigned to court by operation of law
Preceded by	Court created
Succeeded by	Pauline Newman
Judge of the United States Court of Claims
In office November 3, 1966 – October 1, 1982
Appointed by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Court abolished
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office September 15, 1964 – November 3, 1966
Appointed by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Irvin Charles Mollison
Succeeded by	Herbert N. Maletz
Personal details
Born	(1907-08-11)August 11, 1907 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	January 26, 1990(1990-01-26) (aged 82) Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	Harvard University A.B. Harvard Law School J.D.
Profession	Judge

Philip Nichols, Jr. (August 11, 1907 – January 26, 1990) was a judge on the United States Court of Claims and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Biography

Born in Boston, Massachusetts Nichols received an Artium Baccalaureus from Harvard University in 1929 and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1932. He was in private practice in Boston from 1932 to 1938. He was a special attorney of Lands Division, United States Department of Justice from 1938 to 1941, and then a special attorney of the Legal Division, U.S. War Production Board from 1942 to 1944. He was in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was an assistant general counsel to the United States Department of the Treasury from 1947 to 1951. He was a general counsel to the Renegotiation Board from 1951 to 1954. He returned to private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1954 to 1961. He was Commissioner of Customs for the Treasury Department from 1961 to 1964.

Federal Judicial Service

On June 16, 1964, President Johnson nominated Nichols to serve as a Judge of the United States Customs Court, to the seat vacated by Irvin Charles Mollison. He was confirmed by the Senate on September 15, 1964 and received his commission the same day. On October 6, 1966, President Johnson nominated Nichols to serve as a Judge for the United States Court of Claims to a new seat. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 21, 1966 and received his commission on November 3, 1966, with Judge Herbert N. Maletz succeeding him on the Customs Court. On October 1, 1982, he was transferred by operation of law to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He took senior status on October 1, 1983 and remained in that status until his death. He was succeeded by Judge Pauline Newman.

Death

Nichols died on January 26, 1990, in Washington, D.C.

References

• Philip Nichols Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.