Appointed by Gerald Ford Preceded by Abraham L. Marovitz | Name George Leighton Succeeded by James Henry Alesia | |
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Full Name George Neves Leitao Born October 22, 1912 (age 111)
New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. ( 1912-10-22 ) Alma mater Howard University
Harvard Law School Occupation Retired judge; World War II veteran military officer Education Harvard Law School, Howard University, Harvard University | ||
George n leighton the man the judge and the rock
George Neves Leighton (né George Neves Leitão; born October 22, 1912) is a retired American jurist.
Contents
- George n leighton the man the judge and the rock
- George n leighton the most remarkable lawyer or judge that i ve ever met
- Early life and marriage
- Career
- Legacy and honors
- References
George n leighton the most remarkable lawyer or judge that i ve ever met
Early life and marriage
George Neves Leitão was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts to Ana Silva Garcia and António Neves Leitão, both originally immigrants from Brava, Cape Verde. Leitão learned Cape Verdean Creole and English as a child. His surname was anglicised as "Leighton" by a teacher who claimed she could not pronounce his last name "Leitão". His parents agreed. He grew up in New Bedford and Cape Cod, leaving high school before graduation in order to work on oil tankers. He continued his studies independently and through night school classes until he could enter Howard University.
Leighton married Virginia Berry Quivers; the couple had two daughters, Virginia Anne and Barbara Elaine. After her death in 1992, he did not remarry. As of 2015, Leighton has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was a tournament chess player. Leighton turned 104 in October 2016. Leighton lives at the Veterans Administration Center in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Career
Leighton graduated in 1940 from Howard University, a historically black college, with an B.A.. He started law school but was interrupted by the United States' entry into World War II. After the war he returned to Harvard Law School and earning an LL.B. in 1946. From 1942-1945, during World War II, Leighton had served in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Captain.
Leighton was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1946. He moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1946 and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1947. Leighton was in private practice from 1946–64, aside from the period during which he served as Assistant State Attorney General of Illinois (1949–51). He served as a Master in Chancery, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois from 1960–64. Leighton was also involved in the Democratic Party.
Leighton was elected as a judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, serving from 1964–69. He was appointed as a judge with the First District Appellate Court of Illinois, serving from 1969-76. Leighton was the first African American to hold this position in the State of Illinois.
In 1975 President Gerald Ford nominated Leighton to a seat on the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. This was a seat being vacated by Abraham L. Marovitz. Leighton was confirmed on February 2, 1976, and received commission on February 4, 1976. He served until November 30, 1987. After his retirement from federal service, he returned to the practice of law with the firm of Earl L. Neal & Associates.
Leighton became a Life Member in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1964. He had served the Chicago branch of the NAACP for several years as president and general counsel.