John Feikens

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John Feikens (b. December 3, 1917) is a politician and judge from the U.S. state of Michigan and is currently Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (1986-present).

Feikens was born in Clifton, New Jersey. He later resided in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He was educated at Calvin College and the University of Michigan. He practiced law in Detroit from 1942-1960 and 1961-1970.

He was an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention, a delegate to the 1956 convention, and an alternate delegate in 1960. He served as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1953 to 1957 and was a member of the Republican National Committee in 1954.

Feikens was first nominated to the bench by Dwight D. Eisenhower, but the Senate did not confirm him, due largely to the opposition of Senator McNamara of Michigan. He received a recess appointment from Eisenhower and became a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, serving from 1960 to 1961. He was nominated again by John F. Kennedy, but the president withdrew the nomination. His third and final nomination came from Richard M. Nixon, and after confirmation, he was appointed to the Court in 1970 and was promoted to Chief Judge in 1979. He became Senior Judge in 1986, and continues to serve in that position to the present.