Henry Curtis Meanor

Henry Curtis Meanor (or H. Curtis Meanor, 1929–2008) was a former United States federal judge.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Meanor received a B.A. from Rutgers University in 1952, and an LL.B. from the Rutgers University School of Law in 1955. After his graduation, he served as a law clerk to judge Phillip Forman of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1955-56. Meanor was in private practice from 1956–59, and again from 1960–69, having worked as acting secretary to New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner in 1959 and 1960. Meanor also taught as an adjunct professor of law at Fordham University from 1964-68. From 1969-72, he was a judge for the county court of Essex County, New Jersey, and then became a judge for the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court until 1974.

On May 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon nominated Meanor to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by John J. Kitchen. Meanor was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 13, 1974, and received his commission on June 25, 1974. He served until his resignation on February 7, 1983.

In addition to his judicial experience, Curt had substantial experience in all aspects of litigation. He was in private practice in Hudson County for 13 years before serving on the bench, and in his 22 years with the Podvey Meanor Firm, he was active in litigation and appellate practice. During that time, he also was frequently retained to serve as a mediator or an arbitrator because of his reputation for fairness and his ability to analyze complex issues.

Curt Meanor, joined the Podvey Meanor Firm in 1986 and continued in active practice at the Podvey Meanor Firm for the remainder of his life. Judge Meanor graduated from Rutgers University School of Law as a Henry Rutgers Scholar. Curt served as a judge for almost 14 years in the Superior Court of New Jersey in both the Law and Appellate Divisions, and also sat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (by designation). He was an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School from 1964 to 1968 and served as Executive Secretary to Robert B. Meyner, Governor of the State of New Jersey, from 1959 through 1960.

During his time at the Podvey Meanor Firm, he was an invaluable resource to clients and colleagues, and his dedication to the practice of law and to client service is an example that his colleagues strive daily to emulate. He died on August 22, 2008.

Sources

• Henry Curtis Meanor at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.