Thomas J. Michie

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Judge Thomas J. Michie
1958-Michie, Thomas J Mayor.JPG
Thomas J. Michie, Jr. (D), ca. 1958

Term Start September 1, 1958
Term End 1960
Preceded by R. M. Davis
Succeeded by Louis L. Scribner

City Coucilman
Term Start 1960
Term End 1961 (resigned)
Succeeded by J. Robert Ponton

Federal Judge
Electoral District Western District of Virginia
Term Start July 29, 1961

Biographical Information

Date of birth June 7, 1896
Date of death April 9, 1973 (aged 76

)

Place of birth Northport, NY
Alma mater University of Virginia
Profession Attorney, Judge

Thomas Johnson Michie IV (also know as Thomas J. Michie, Sr.; June 7, 1896- April 9, 1973), a member of the Democratic Party, served as a member of city council from 1954 to 1960 and as councilor/mayor for the last two years of that period. He was an attorney and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Michie was elected to the City Council on June 8, 1954.[1] Michie served as mayor of Charlottesville during the closure of two public schools by the state’s "massive resistance" laws. He was appointed federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia and took office on July 29, 1961. When Michie returned to Charlottesville after World War II, he formed a partnership with Junius R. Fishburne in 1946, known as Michie and Fishburne (later the firm took the named of Michie Hamlett).

Michie served as Mayor of Charlottesville from 1958 to 1960. After serving on the City Council for nearly seven years, Michie resigned after his appointment as United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia (Federal law prohibited any Federal Judge from holding any state or municipal office). His letter of resignation was submitted to Mayor Louis L. Scribner on July 31, 1961.[2]

Family

Born in Northport, N.Y., to Thomas Johnson and Emily (Hewson) Michie. In 1942, Judge Michie published a history of his family, The Michies, going back to a Scottish immigrant, known as "Scotch John" Michie.

Judge Michie was the son and nephew of the founders of the Michie Publishing Company, a lawbook publisher based in the City (now known as LexisNexis).

Michie's son, Thomas J. Michie Jr. (1931-2019) [3] was appointed to the Charlottesville School Board (1965-1970); served in the Virginia House of Delegates (1971-1980); member of State Senator from (1980-1992) where he served on the Joint Subcommittee on Annexation, and sponsor of the original versions of the subject legislation.[4]

His grandson, Edmund R. "Ned" Michie was a member of the Charlottesville School Board (2004-2017).

Civic activities

  • City Council, Charlottesville, Virginia[5]
  • Mayor (council elected), Charlottesville, Virginia, 1958-1960
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello).

Judicial career

  • Western District of Virginia [6]
Michie was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on May 11, 1961, to a seat vacated by Roby Thompson; he was confirmed by the Senate on June 27, 1961, and received his commission on June 30th. He resigned from the Charlottesville City Council on July 31, 1961. He assumed senior status on November 6, 1967, and served in that capacity until his death on April 9, 1973. Michie was succeeded in this position by Hiram Widener.

Early life and education

  • University of Virginia, A.B., 1917
  • University of Virginia, A.M., 1920
  • University of Virginia School of Law, LL.B., 1921

Professional career

  • U.S. Army Second Lieutenant, 1917-1919
  • Admitted to practice, 1920
  • Private practice, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1921-1926
  • Attorney, Koppers Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1926-1942
  • Chief counsel, 1937-1942
  • U.S. Army Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel, 1942-1946
  • Private practice, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1946-1961
  • Who's Who in Law, 1937
    Lecturer, University of Virginia School of Law, 1946-1961


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External links

Thomas J. Michie on wikipedia