Richard_Battey
Richard Battey
American judge
Richard Howard Battey (October 16, 1929 – May 6, 2017) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.
Richard Battey | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
| In office January 1, 1999 – May 6, 2017 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
| In office 1994–1998 | |
| Preceded by | John Bailey Jones |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence L. Piersol |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota | |
| In office October 28, 1985 – January 1, 1999 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Andrew Wendell Bogue |
| Succeeded by | Karen Schreier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Howard Battey (1929-10-16)October 16, 1929 Aberdeen, South Dakota |
| Died | May 6, 2017(2017-05-06) (aged 87) Alexandria, Minnesota |
| Education | University of South Dakota University of South Dakota School of Law (J.D.) |
Battey was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After attending the University of South Dakota in 1950, he received a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1953. After serving as a United States Army lieutenant from 1953 to 1955, he went into private practice in Redfield, South Dakota, from 1955 to 1985.[1]
Battey was nominated to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota by Ronald Reagan on September 27, 1985. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 25, 1985, and received his commission on October 28, 1985. He served as chief judge from 1994 to 1998. He assumed senior status on January 1, 1999, serving in that status until his death.[1]
'Sue' dinosaur fossil dispute
Battey is known for being the presiding judge in the dispute over the recovery fossil remains on federal lands including by the Sue discoverer Peter Larson and Black Hills Institute of Geological Research paleontologists. Following a trial on charges unrelated to the "Sue" T. rex find,[2] Larson was convicted of two felonies and two misdemeanors,[3] charges which some considered politically motivated.[4] Battey sentenced Larson to two years in federal prison. In 2015, South Dakota lawmakers petitioned Barack Obama for a formal full pardon of Larson.[5] Battey is portrayed in a negative light for his handling of Sue Dinosaur Case in the Sundance Film Festival Documentary Dinosaur 13.
Notable law clerks
Among Battey's notable judicial law clerks were David Lust and Marty Jackley.
Richard Battey died in Alexandria, Minnesota, on May 6, 2017.[6]
- "Battey, Richard Howard - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- Kjærgaard, Peter C. (June 2012). "The Fossil Trade: Paying a Price for Human Origins". Isis. 103 (2): 340–355. doi:10.1086/666365. JSTOR 10.1086/666365. PMID 22908426.
- Browne, Malcolm (February 22, 1996). "Fossil Dealer, Target of Federal Prosecutors, Begins Jail Term". New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- Browne, Malcolm W. (July 21, 1992). "A Dinosaur Named Sue Divides Fossil Hunters". New York Times.
- Associated Press (5 March 2015). "Panel calls for pardon of famous paleontologist credited in discovery of 'Sue' the T. rex". Chicago Tribune.
- "Battey, Judge Richard". 9 May 2017.
- Richard Howard Battey at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota 1985–1999 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota 1994–1998 |
Succeeded by |