Edward Roy Becker
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| Edward Roy Becker | |
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| In office 1998 – 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Dolores Sloviter |
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| Succeeded by | Anthony Joseph Scirica |
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| In office 1981 – 2003 |
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| Nominated by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Max Rosenn |
| Succeeded by | Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen |
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| Born | May 4, 1933 Philadelphia, PA |
| Died | May 19, 2006 Philadelphia, PA |
Edward Roy Becker was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He served on the Third Circuit from 1981 until his death in 2006, including five years as Chief Judge, from 1998 to 2003. He was born in 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died May 19, 2006 [1].
Becker received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, and his LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1957. He had a private law practice in Philadelphia from 1957 to 1970.
Becker's career as a federal judge began with his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was nominated by Richard M. Nixon on September 24, 1970 to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294, was confirmed by the Senate on October 8, 1970 and received commission on October 14, 1970. His service terminated on January 22, 1982 due to his elevation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Becker was nominated by Ronald Reagan on November 16, 1981 to the Third Circuit seat vacated by Max Rosenn, was confirmed by the Senate on December 3, 1981 and received commission on the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1998 to 2003. [2] He assumed senior status on May 4, 2003.
Becker was known for the case Mackensworth v. American Trading Transportation Co. a decision that he wrote in verse.[3] He was also known for occasionally inserting humor into judicial rulings. [4]
In 2003, Becker authored the decision on Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia v. Chester County, ruling that the display of Ten Commandments outside of a courthouse of Chester County did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.[5]
