Paul Gerhart Hatfield(April 29, 1928 – July 3, 2000) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist. He served briefly asUnited States SenatorfromMontanain 1978, and then as aUnited States district judgeof theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana.
Paul G. Hatfield | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Judgeof theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office February 9, 1996 – July 3, 2000 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office 1990–1996 | |
| Preceded by | James F. Battin |
| Succeeded by | Jack D. Shanstrom |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office May 10, 1979 – February 9, 1996 | |
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Russell Evans Smith |
| Succeeded by | Donald W. Molloy |
| United States Senator fromMontana | |
| In office January 22, 1978 – December 14, 1978 | |
| Appointed by | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Preceded by | Lee Metcalf |
| Succeeded by | Max Baucus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Gerhart Hatfield April 29, 1928 Great Falls,Montana,U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2000(aged 72) Great Falls, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Montana(LLB) |
Early life and education
editBorn inGreat Falls,Montana,Hatfield attended the College of Great Falls (nowUniversity of Great Falls). He served in theUnited States Army Signal Corpswith the 181st Signal Depot Company, from 1951 to 1953, including inKoreaduring theKorean Warfrom 1952 to 1953.[1]He received aBachelor of Lawsfrom theAlexander Blewett III School of Lawat theUniversity of MontanainMissoulain 1955.
Career
editHatfield was admitted to the Montana bar that same year, commencing his practice in Great Falls.[2]He was chief deputycounty attorneyforCascade Countyfrom 1959 to 1960 and served as judge of the Eighth Judicial District from 1961 to 1976. He was electedChief Justiceof theMontana Supreme Courtin the 1976 general election, defeating long-time Associate Justice Wesley Castles with a vote of 199,536 (67.5%) to 95,947 (32.5%), taking office in January 1977.
United States Senate
editOn January 22, 1978,MontanaGovernorThomas Lee Judgeappointed Hatfield to theUnited States Senateto fill the vacancy caused by the death ofLee Metcalffor the term ending January 3, 1979. He served from January 22, 1978, until his resignation December 14, 1978. He was defeated for nomination in the Democratic primary in June 1978 by CongressmanMax Baucuswith Baucus getting 87,085 votes (65.3%) to Hatfield's 25,789 (19.3%). There were two other minor candidates in the race. After that nominating defeat, Hatfield remained in the Senate until his own resignation when the election of his successor, Baucus, was officially certified after the general election in November 1978. Max Baucus praised his former primary opponent for being "one of the most decent and thoughtful people I've had the privilege of knowing."[3]
Federal judicial service
editOn March 15, 1979, Hatfield was nominated by PresidentJimmy Carterto a seat on theUnited States District Court for the District of Montanavacated by JudgeRussell Evans Smith.Hatfield was confirmed by theUnited States Senateon May 9, 1979, and received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1996, assumingsenior statuson February 9, 1996, and continuing to serve until the end of his life.[2]Hatfield was a resident of Great Falls from 1979 until his death on July 3, 2000.[4]He is buried in Riverside Memorial Park inSpokane,Washington.[5]
Death
editHatfield died inGreat Falls, Montanain July 2000. The Paul G. Hatfield Courthouse inHelena, Montanais named in his honor.
References
edit- ^Molloy, Donald W."U.S. District Court, District of Montana Judge Paul G. Hatfield 'He Was the Same Person in Court, at Home or at the Racetrack'",Duke Law: Center for Judicial Studies,November 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^abPaul Gerhart Hatfieldat theBiographical Directory of Federal Judges,a publication of theFederal Judicial Center.
- ^Saxon, Wolfgang (July 5, 2000)."Paul Hatfield, 72, Whose Vote On Panama Canal Was Decisive".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 13,2014.
- ^"Archives West: Guide to the Paul G. Hatfield Papers, 1977-2000".nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu.
- ^Kestenbaum, Lawrence."The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Hatfield".politicalgraveyard.
External links
edit- United States Congress."Paul G. Hatfield (id: H000344)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Paul Gerhart Hatfieldat theBiographical Directory of Federal Judges,a publication of theFederal Judicial Center.