Howard Calvin Bratton (February 4, 1922 – May 5, 2002) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Howard C. Bratton
Bratton in 1990
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
In office
February 4, 1987 – May 5, 2002
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
In office
1978–1987
Preceded byHarry Vearle Payne
Succeeded bySantiago E. Campos
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
In office
March 17, 1964 – February 4, 1987
Appointed byLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byWaldo Henry Rogers
Succeeded byJames Aubrey Parker
Personal details
Born
Howard Calvin Bratton[1]

(1922-02-04)February 4, 1922
Clovis, New Mexico
DiedMay 5, 2002(2002-05-05) (aged 80)
Parent
EducationUniversity of New Mexico (BA)
Yale University (LLB)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1942–1945
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life and education

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Bratton was born in Clovis, New Mexico, the son of politician and jurist Sam G. Bratton. He and graduated from New Mexico Military Institute and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Mexico in 1941. Bratton served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945 and attained the rank of captain.[2] After the war, he received a Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School in 1947.[3]

Career

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After spending a year as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals in 1948, he worked in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1949 to 1952. He was also a special assistant United States attorney in charge of litigation at the Office of Price Stabilization from 1951 to 1952. He returned to private practice in Roswell, New Mexico, from 1952 to 1964.[4] In 1958, Bratton testified before the United States Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on behalf of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association.[5]

On March 3, 1964, Bratton was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico vacated by Judge Waldo Henry Rogers. Bratton was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 14, 1964, and received his commission on March 17, 1964. He served as Chief Judge from 1978 to 1987, assuming senior status on February 4, 1987. Bratton served in that capacity until his death on May 5, 2002.[4]

References

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  1. ^ [govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1963-pt14/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1963-pt14-1-1.pdf Congressional Record: Proceedings And Debates Of The 88th Congress, First Session]
  2. ^ Logan, Paul. "Bratton Called a Model Judge" (obituary), Albuquerque Journal, May 7, 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Albuquerque Journal Obituaries, BRATTON". obits.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  4. ^ a b Howard C. Bratton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Interior and Insular (1958). National Wilderness Preservation Act: Hearings Before the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, United States Senate, Eighty-fifth Congress, Second Session, on S. 4028, a Bill to Establish a National Wilderness Preservation System for the Permanent Good of the Whole People, and for Other Purposes ... U.S. Government Printing Office.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
1964–1987
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
1978–1987
Succeeded by