Abner J. Mikva
| Abner Mikva | |
|---|---|
 |
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| White House Counsel | |
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In office October 1, 1994 – November 1, 1995 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Cutler |
| Succeeded by | Jack Quinn |
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
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In office January 19, 1991 – September 19, 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Patricia Wald |
| Succeeded by | Harry Edwards |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
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In office September 26, 1979 – September 19, 1994 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Merrick Garland |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district |
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In office January 3, 1975 – September 26, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel Young |
| Succeeded by | John Porter |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Barratt O'Hara |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Abner Joseph Mikva January 21, 1926 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 2016 (aged 90) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Zoe Wise (1948–2016) |
| Education |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Washington University (BA) University of Chicago (JD) |
Abner Joseph Mikva (January 21, 1926 – July 4, 2016) was an American politician, federal judge, lawyer and law professor. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he spent his entire political and law career in his hometown in Chicago, Illinois.
Mikva served in the United States House of Representatives representing Illinois's 2nd congressional district (1969–1973) and 10th congressional district (1975–1979). He was appointed Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Bill Clinton, serving from 1991 through 1994. He served as the White House Counsel from 1994 through 1995 under the Clinton presidency.
During his later career, Mikva taught law at University of Chicago Law School and at Northwestern University. He mentored future President of the United States Barack Obama during his early years in law. In 2014, Obama honored Mikva by presenting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mikva died in Chicago at the age of 90 after suffering from bladder cancer.
Mikva was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Ida (Fishman) and Henry Abraham Mikva, Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Mikva and his parents spoke Yiddish at home. During the Great Depression, his father was often unemployed and the family relied on welfare. Abner attended local public schools. During World War II, he enlisted and was trained in the Army Air Corps, but the war ended the day before he was due to be deployed. Afterwards, the GI Bill enabled Mikva to attend the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he met his future wife, Zorita Rose (Zoe) Wise. Both graduated in 1948 and soon married.
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