W. Wallace Kent

W. Wallace Kent (May 1, 1916 – May 28, 1973) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

W. Wallace Kent
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
In office
December 18, 1970  May 28, 1973
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded byBert Combs
Succeeded byAlbert J. Engel Jr.
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
In office
1961–1971
Preceded byRaymond Wesley Starr
Succeeded byNoel Peter Fox
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
In office
June 10, 1954  January 6, 1971
Appointed byDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded bySeat established by 68 Stat. 8
Succeeded byAlbert J. Engel Jr.
Personal details
Born
W. Wallace Kent

(1916-05-01)May 1, 1916
Galesburg, Michigan
DiedMay 28, 1973(1973-05-28) (aged 57)
EducationWestern Michigan College (BA)
University of Michigan Law School (JD)

Education and career

Born on May 1, 1916, in Galesburg, Michigan, Kent received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan College in 1937. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1940. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney and friend of the court in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, from 1941 to 1944. He was the prosecuting attorney of Kalamazoo County, from 1945 to 1946. He was in private practice of law in Kalamazoo County, from 1944 to 1954.[1]

Federal judicial service

Kent was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 10, 1954, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, to a new seat created by 68 Stat. 8. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 8, 1954, and received his commission on June 10, 1954. He served as Chief Judge, from 1961 to 1971. His service was terminated on January 6, 1971, due to elevation to the Sixth Circuit.[1]

Kent was nominated by President Richard Nixon on December 8, 1970, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by Judge Bert Combs. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 16, 1970, and received his commission on December 18, 1970. His service was terminated on May 28, 1973, due to death by an apparent heart attack.[2][1]

Significant cases

  • Bradley v. Milliken, 484 F.2d 215 (6th Cir. 1973), rev'd sub nom Milliken v. Bradley, 418 U.S. 717 (1974), was a school busing case. Judge Kent wrote a partial dissent, the reasoning of which was adopted by the Supreme Court in overruling the Sixth Circuit holding.

References

Sources

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