Raymond Clyne McNichols

Raymond Clyne McNichols (June 16, 1914 – December 25, 1985) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.

Ray McNichols
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office July 1, 1981 – December 25, 1985
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office 1971–1981
Preceded by	Fredrick Monroe Taylor
Succeeded by	Marion Jones Callister
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office May 1, 1964 – July 1, 1981
Appointed by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Chase A. Clark
Succeeded by	Harold Lyman Ryan
Personal details
Born	Raymond Clyne McNichols June 16, 1914 Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Died	December 25, 1985 (aged 71) Boise, Idaho
Resting place	Morris Hill Cemetery Boise, Idaho
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Idaho College of Law (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and raised in Lewiston, McNichols was in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1942 to 1947. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow and received a Bachelor of Laws from its College of Law in 1950. He was in private practice in Orofino in Clearwater County, Idaho from 1950 to 1964. He was a member of the Democratic Party.[1][2]

Federal judicial service

On April 15, 1964, McNichols was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Idaho vacated by the retirement of Judge Chase A. Clark.[3] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 30 and received his commission on May 1, 1964. McNichols served as Chief Judge from 1971 to 1981, and assumed senior status on July 1, 1981, and served in that capacity for over four years, until his death.[4]

Family

McNichols' younger brother Robert James McNichols (1922–1992) was also a federal judge, in Spokane, Washington.[5][6] During Robert's investiture to the federal bench in January 1980, the elder brother swore the younger in.[7]

Death

McNichols suffered a heart attack at his Boise home on Christmas Day in 1985, and died at age 71 at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise.[8] He and his wife, Mary Kay Riley McNichols (1914–1991), are buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise. They had two children.[9]

References

1. "Two Democratic leaders fight for Idaho control". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 21, 1952. p. 5.
2. "Democrats in Idaho head for Lewiston". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 20, 1956. p. a3.
3. Hewlett, Frank (April 16, 1964). "McNichols of Orofino nominated". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
4. Raymond Clyne McNichols at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
5. "A tale of two judges, brothers under robes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. July 11, 1981. p. 3.
6. "Judge takes over case from brother who died". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. June 5, 1986. p. A12.
7. Sallquist, Bill (January 5, 1980). "McNichols on federal bench". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 3.
8. "Idaho's federal judge Ray McNichols dies". Spokane Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. December 26, 1985. p. A3.
9. "Ray McNichols gets into print". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 6, 1965. p. 3.

External links

• Raymond Clyne McNichols at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Raymond Clyne McNichols at Find a Grave