Edward Roy Becker

Infobox Judge
name = Edward Roy Becker


imagesize = 150px
caption =
office = Chief Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

termstart = 1998
termend = 2003
nominator =
appointer =
predecessor = Dolores Sloviter
successor = Anthony Joseph Scirica

office2 = Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
termstart2 = 1981
termend2 = 2003
nominator2 = Ronald Reagan
appointer2 =
predecessor2 = Max Rosenn
successor2 = Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen
birthdate = May 4, 1933
birthplace = Philadelphia, PA
deathdate = May 19, 2006
deathplace = Philadelphia, PA
spouse =

Edward Roy Becker was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He served on the Third Circuit from 1981 until his death in 2006, including five years as Chief Judge, from 1998 to 2003. He was born in 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died May 19, 2006 [ [http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/14624681.htm] ] .

Becker received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, and his LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1957. He had a private law practice in Philadelphia from 1957 to 1970.

Becker's career as a federal judge began with his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was nominated by Richard M. Nixon on September 24, 1970 to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294, was confirmed by the Senate on October 8, 1970 and received commission on October 14, 1970. His service terminated on January 22, 1982 due to his elevation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Becker was nominated by Ronald Reagan on November 16, 1981 to the Third Circuit seat vacated by Max Rosenn, was confirmed by the Senate on December 3, 1981 and received commission on the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1998 to 2003. [ [http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=136] ] He assumed senior status on May 4, 2003.

Becker was known for the case "Mackensworth v. American Trading Transportation Co." a decision that he wrote in verse. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28010-2178705,00.html Laughed out of court - humour from the Bench - Law - Times Online ] ] He was also known for occasionally inserting humor into judicial rulings. [ [http://www.texasbar.com/saywhat/weblog/buchmeyer_article_archive/Feb83.asp Say What?! - A weblog of classic humor from U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer ] ]

In 2003, Becker authored the decision on "Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia v. Chester County", ruling that the display of Ten Commandments outside of a courthouse of Chester County did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. [ [http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=11651 3rd Circuit: Ten Commandments plaque can remain on courthouse] The Associated Press ]

References

External links

* [http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=136 Federal Judicial Center profile]