Thomas E. Linehan

Thomas Edward Linehan (June 28, 1904 – August 5, 1974) was an American jurist and politician who served as a justice on the South Boston Municipal Court and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Boston City Council.

Thomas E. Linehan
Presiding Justice of the South Boston Municipal Court
In office
1955–1974
Preceded byPhilip A. Chapman
Succeeded byLawrence L. Cameron
Special Justice of the South Boston Municipal Court
In office
1950–1955
Preceded byWilliam J. Day
Succeeded byJoseph F. Feeney
President of the Boston City Council
In office
1942–1942
Preceded byWilliam J. Galvin
Succeeded byThomas J. Hannon
Member of the Boston City Council for Ward 7
In office
1946–1950
Preceded byJohn E. Kerrigan
Succeeded byJohn J. McClogan
In office
1940–1944
Preceded byJohn E. Kerrigan
Succeeded byJohn E. Kerrigan
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 7th Suffolk District
In office
1935–1941
Personal details
BornJune 28, 1904
South Boston
DiedAugust 5, 1974 (aged 70)
Dorchester
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKatherine McGovern (1943–1974; his death)
Alma materNortheastern University School of Law
Northeastern University Business School
OccupationLawyer

Early life

Linehan was born on June 28, 1904, in South Boston.[1] While in grammar school he received the nickname “Bobby” for his skill at “bobbing” in marbles.[2] He graduated from South Boston High School, Northeastern University School of Law and Northeastern University Business School.[1] During college he worked for a wholesale shoe company and a writing paper company and was a lab assistant.[3] After finishing his education, Linehan extensively studied unemployment insurance.[4] He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1932, the federal district courts in 1933, and the United States Supreme Court in 1940.[3]

Political career

Linehan served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1937 to 1941. He was a member of the committee on banks and banking and the judiciary. He succeeded in passing a law that enlarged the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Act and relaxed the Juvenile Delinquency Act. He was also responsible for the act that turned the Dorchester Heights Monument over to the National Park Service.[3]

He was elected to the Boston City Council in 1939. During his first two campaigns, Linehan did not make any speeches for his candidacy, instead spending time on the stump for Mayor Maurice J. Tobin.[3] In 1942 he was elected council president.[4] He was elected on the sixth ballot and 30 days after the first vote for council president.[3]

On May 9, 1942, Linehan received his commission as a lieutenant, senior grade in the United States Naval Reserve.[5] During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant commander.[2] On September 4, 1943, he married Katherine McGovern at Saint Augustine's Church.[6] He did not seek reelection in 1943 because he was still in the service.[7]

Linehan returned to the council in 1946, succeeding John E. Kerrigan who had run for Mayor.[8] During his second stint on the council, Linehan championed veterans' causes, especially veterans' housing.[2]

Judicial career

On June 7, 1950, Governor Paul A. Dever appointed Linehan to succeed William J. Day as a special justice of the South Boston Municipal Court.[9] In 1957 he was made presiding justice by Governor Foster Furcolo.[10] He left the bench on June 28, 1974, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.[11] His retirement was short-lived, as he died on August 5, 1974, at his home in Dorchester.[12]

See also

References
  1. Public officials of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1939-1940. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  2. Bartlett, K. S. (June 18, 1950). "South Boston Knows Judge Linehan as "Bobby"". The Boston Daily Globe.
  3. Hennessy, M. E. (February 1, 1942). "Boston's No. 2 Man Is Also Good Looking". The Boston Daily Globe.
  4. "City Council Picks Linehan, South Boston, for President Attorney Urges Raises Be Granted Police, Firemen". The Boston Daily Globe. January 27, 1942.
  5. "Naval Reserve Commission for City Council President". The Boston Daily Globe. May 10, 1942.
  6. "Katherine McGovern Bride of Lieut Linehan". The Boston Daily Globe. September 5, 1943.
  7. "Norton, White and McDevitt Are Reelected". The Boston Daily Globe. November 3, 1943.
  8. "Due to Curley Duties in Washington, Council President Is Key Job". The Boston Daily Globe. January 6, 1946.
  9. "Special Election in Ward 7 Seen in September". The Boston Daily Globe. June 8, 1950.
  10. "Furcolo to Name Linehan Today as Presiding Justice". The Boston Daily Globe. March 7, 1957.
  11. Kenney, Michael (July 13, 1974). "Who will win Bulger's seat?". The Boston Globe.
  12. "Judge Linehan, 69 (sic), South Boston justice". The Boston Globe. August 6, 1974.
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