George MacKinnon | |
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Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review | |
In office May 19, 1979 – May 18, 1982 |
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Preceded by | Seat established |
Succeeded by | John Field |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
In office May 6, 1969 – May 20, 1983 |
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Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Charles Fahy |
Succeeded by | Ken Starr |
United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota | |
In office 1953–1958 |
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Appointed by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Preceded by | Fallon Kelly |
Succeeded by | Phillip Neville |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 3rd district |
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In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 |
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Preceded by | William Gallagher |
Succeeded by | Roy Wier |
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 29th district |
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In office January 8, 1935 – January 4, 1943 |
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Preceded by | Burton Kingsley |
Succeeded by | Carl Wegner |
Personal details | |
Born |
George Edwards MacKinnon April 22, 1906 St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | May 1, 1995 Potomac, Maryland, U.S. |
(aged 89)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Valentine Davis |
Education |
University of Colorado, Boulder University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (LLB) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Rank | Commander |
George Edward MacKinnon (April 22, 1906 – May 1, 1995) was appointed by President Nixon to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in May 1969, where he served until his death in 1995. Judge MacKinnon is also the father of feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon.
According to Judge Harry T. Edwards, Judge MacKinnon was "a real character: he was someone who was not easily dissuaded from his positions, who always aimed to get his way, and, yet, who always enjoyed his colleagues and fostered collegiality on the court." Chief Justice Warren Burger, a fellow Minnesotan who appointed MacKinnon to the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the special court division that selected independent counsel, said, "He's a man who can't be frightened or pushed by anybody" when describing him.
Judge MacKinnon was also known as a conservative and once described as "so far right he makes Goldwater look like George McGovern," although this may have been hyperbole.
Thomas J. Campbell, who once worked as a clerk for Judge MacKinnon, has written:
MacKinnon was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1906, the son of James Alexander Wiley and Cora Blanche (Asselstine) MacKinnon.
MacKinnon attended the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1923–1924 and received his LL.B. with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1929. During this time, he also won an All-American rating as center on the Minnesota football teams of 1925–1927, and the Western Conference Medal of 1929.
After graduating MacKinnon was assistant general counsel for the Investor's Syndicate (later known as the Investors Diversified Services) from 1929 to 1942. During this time, he was also a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 29th District (1935–1942) and he served on the Rules Committee and as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He authored and help led the enactment of the 1939 Minnesota State Reorganization Act, and drafted the state Civil Service Law of 1939 and the state Old Age Assistance Law of 1936.