| Barron Patterson McCune | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1970–2008 |
|
| Nominated by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | None[nb 1] |
| Succeeded by | William Lloyd Standish[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 19, 1915 West Newton, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 10, 2008 (aged 93) Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Edna Markey[3] |
| Alma mater | Washington and Jefferson College University of Pennsylvania Law School |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | U.S. Naval Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942-1948 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Barron Patterson McCune (February 19, 1915 – September 10, 2008) was a United States federal judge.
He was born in West Newton, Pennsylvania in 1915 and attended Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.[4] As a student, he submitted jokes told by history professor Dr. Alfred Sweet to Judge magazine, splitting the $2 check from the publication.[4] He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, as well as the Buskin Club, a theater organization.[5] McCune received an A.B. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1935.[4] As McCune then took a job with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, his father encouraged him to study law.[4] He entered University of Pennsylvania Law School and earned an LL.B. in 1938.[1]
He returned to Washington, Pennsylvania in 1939 to work in private practice, serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a gunnery officer from 1942 to 1948.[1][6] In 1964, he became a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Washington County, Pennsylvania.[1] On December 8, 1970, he was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania; he was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 16, 1970.[1] He assumed senior status in 1985.[1]
During his tenure on the court, he heard a wide variety of cases, including a case involving cocaine trafficking in Major League Baseball and an insurance law case determining whether certain women with breast cancer had insurance coverage for bone marrow transplants.[4] He held in favor of Allegheny County in a challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union to a display of the Nativity scene at the Allegheny County Courthouse.[3][nb 2]
He was known for being a large man, standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 215 pounds, and his judicial demeanor was marked by his "one-liners, an imposing demeanor, and a penchant for cigars."[3] He retired from the bench in 1995.[6]
He was active with his alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College, serving on the Board of Trustees for 40 years, including a time as president of the board from 1976 to 1983.[6] He was an avid fan of the Washington & Jefferson football team, attending every home game until the age of 92.[4]
He was married to his wife, Edna Markey, from 1943 until her death in 1999.[3] They had two sons, James H. and Barron P. Jr.[6] He was a member of the Church of the Covenant, a Presbyterian church in Washington.[4] He died in 2008 in Washington, Pennsylvania.[1]