Mortimer W. Byers

Mortimer W. Byers (March 28, 1877 – March 5, 1962) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Mortimer W. Byers
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
In office February 1, 1960 – March 5, 1962
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
In office 1958–1959
Preceded by	Robert Alexander Inch
Succeeded by	Walter Bruchhausen
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
In office November 20, 1929 – February 1, 1960
Appointed by	Herbert Hoover
Preceded by	Seat established by 45 Stat. 1409
Succeeded by	Jacob Mishler
Personal details
Born	March 28, 1877 Brooklyn, New York
Died	March 5, 1962 (aged 84) Brooklyn, New York
Education	Columbia Law School (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Byers received a Bachelor of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1898, and then served as a sergeant in the 23rd Regiment of the New York State National Guard in World War I. He was in private practice of law in Brooklyn from 1898 to 1929.[1]

Federal judicial service

Byers was nominated by President Herbert Hoover on September 9, 1929, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, to a new seat authorized by 45 Stat. 1409. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 20, 1929, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1958 to 1959. He assumed senior status on February 1, 1960. His service terminated on March 5, 1962, due to his death in Brooklyn.[1]

Notable case

In 1957, Byers presided over the trial of Soviet spy Vilyam Genrikhovich Fisher (better known by his alias, Rudolf Abel) in what was known as the Hollow Nickel Case. Fisher was convicted on three counts, and on November 15, 1957, Byers sentenced Fisher to concurrent terms of imprisonment of thirty, ten and five years on the three counts and fined him a total of three thousand dollars.[2]

Portrayal

Byers was portrayed by Dakin Matthews in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies.[3]

References

1. Mortimer W. Byers at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "FBI: Rudolph Ivanovich Abel (Hollow Nickel Case)". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved: January 4, 2012. Archived May 29, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
3. "Cold War ‘Bridge of Spies’ is an outstanding thriller from Spielberg", thedialog, accessed October 16, 2015

Sources

• Mortimer W. Byers at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.