John H. Wood Jr.

John Howland Wood Jr. (March 31, 1916 – May 29, 1979) was an American lawyer and judge from Texas. He served as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas before being assassinated by Charles Harrelson outside Wood's home in San Antonio, in 1979. Wood's killing was the first assassination of a federal judge in the 20th century.

This article is about the murdered judge. For other people with similar names, see John Wood (disambiguation).
John H. Wood Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office
December 1, 1970 – May 29, 1979
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded bySeat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded byLucius Desha Bunton III
Personal details
Born
John Howland Wood Jr.

(1916-03-31)March 31, 1916
Rockport, Texas
DiedMay 29, 1979(1979-05-29) (aged 63)
San Antonio, Texas
EducationSt. Mary's University, Texas (B.B.A.)
University of Texas School of Law (LL.B.)

Early life and education

Wood was born on March 31, 1916, to a prominent pioneer Texas family in Rockport, Texas. His great-great-grandfather, John Howland Wood, settled in Texas in 1836 and founded the towns of Rockport and Woodsboro, and took part in the Texas Revolution and American Civil War. His grandfather was a popular Democratic sheriff of Bexar County. Wood's father, John H. Wood Sr., was also a lawyer. Wood attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Mary's University, Texas in 1935 and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Texas School of Law in 1938.[1][2]

Career

Wood was in private practice in San Antonio from 1938 to 1970 with the law firm Beckmann, Stanard & Olson, except from 1944 to 1945, when he served as an ensign in the United States Navy during World War II. Wood was in the United States Naval Reserve from 1945 to 1954, as a Lieutenant.[3][2]

Federal judicial service

Wood was nominated by President Richard Nixon on October 7, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. Confirmed by the United States Senate on November 25, 1970, he received his commission on December 1, 1970. He served until his assassination in San Antonio on May 29, 1979.[2]

Assassination
Main article: Charles Harrelson § Murder of Judge John H. Wood Jr.

On May 29, 1979, Judge Wood was killed in San Antonio, by a shot from a high-powered rifle as he stood at the door of his automobile. He was struck in the small of the back and the bullet lodged near the upper part of his chest. Wood, known as "Maximum John" for his harsh sentencing of drug traffickers, was assassinated by Charles Harrelson in a contract killing placed by Texas drug lord Jamiel Chagra, who was awaiting trial before the judge.[4] Wood's killing was the first assassination of a federal judge in the 20th century.[3] (Two other federal judges were assassinated in the 1980s, Richard J. Daronco in 1988 and Robert Smith Vance in 1989.) President Jimmy Carter described his assassination as "an assault on our very system of justice."[5]

Honors

John H. Wood Middle School, in San Antonio is named in his honor.[6] The federal courthouse in San Antonio is also named for Wood.[7]

See also

References
  1. Diehl, Kemper (30 May 1979). "U.S. Judge, Known for Severity In Drug Cases, Is Slain in Texas". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. John Howland Wood Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. Baker, Susan (11 Aug 2015). Murdered Judges: Of the 20th Century and Other Mysterious Deaths. Pale Horse Publishing. p. 274. ISBN 1587470780. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  4. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 - Chagra Testifies For Prosecution, Harrelson Alleges Complicated Set-up, Verdicts And Convictions, Harrelson's Son Funds Appeal". jrank.org. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. "John H. Wood, Jr. Statement on the Death of the U.S. District Judge. | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  6. "Wood Middle School / Wood Middle School Homepage | NEISD". www.neisd.net. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  7. "John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse, San Antonio | 319692 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2019-06-10.

Sources
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 84 Stat. 294		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
1970–1979		 Succeeded by
Lucius Desha Bunton III
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