John Winslow Bissell
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John Winslow Bissell (b. June 7, 1940) is an American judge and attorney who served as a Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1982-2005. He served as Chief Judge of the Court from 2001-2005.
Bissell graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1958 and received his bachelor's degree in History from Princeton University in 1962. He then went on to earn his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1965. Following graduation from law school, Bissell served as Law Clerk to Judge Arthur Stephen Lane of the District of New Jersey from 1965-1966.
After his clerkship, Bissell entered private practice from 1966-1969 before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1969-1971. He then returned to private practice from 1972-1978 before serving as Judge, Essex County, New Jersey District Court from 1978-1981 and Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey from 1981-1982.
On November 23, 1982, President Ronald Reagan nominated Bissell to serve on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 1982 and received his commission the same day. He served as a Judge on that Court from 1982-2005, and as Chief Judge from 2001-2005. He retired on September 1, 2005, and returned to private practice, joining Connell Foley.