Albert Joseph Engel Jr. (March 21, 1924 – April 5, 2013) was a United States circuit judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (in case citations, 6th Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * Eastern District of Kentucky * Western District of K ...

Education and career

Engel was born in Lake City,

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

, the son of

United States Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

Albert J. Engel and Bertha (Bielby) Engel. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Lake City,

Muskegon Muskegon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Muskegon County, Michigan, United States. Situated around a harbor of Lake Michigan, Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, and boating. It is the most populous city along Lake Michigan' ...

, Michigan, and

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

In September 1941, he attended the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD i ...

, but left in June of the next year and enrolled at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

. Engel left the university in February 1943, and entered the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

as a private in the infantry but was transferred to the Ordnance Department. He graduated at

Aberdeen Proving Ground Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a U.S. Army facility located adjacent to Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland, United States. More than 7,500 civilians and 5,000 military personnel work at APG. There are 11 major commands among the tenant units, ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and went on to command his own bomb disposal unit in the

European Theatre of World War II The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main theatres of combat during World War II, taking place from September 1939 to May 1945. The Allied powers (including the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union and Franc ...

for two years, seeing action in

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, and

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. He was discharged in April 1946, after attaining the rank of Captain and earning five

battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...

s. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Engel returned to the University of Michigan and received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in political science. In 1950, he earned his

Bachelor of Laws A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...

from the

University of Michigan Law School The University of Michigan Law School (branded as Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Comparati ...

where he was a member of

Phi Delta Phi Phi Delta Phi (), commonly known as Phid or PDP, is an international legal honor society and the oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States. Founded in 1869 at the University of Michigan as a professional fraternity, ...

and a senior judge in Law School Court. He was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan on May 31, 1951, and to practice before the

United States District Court The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district. Each district cov ...

in 1952. After one year in Washington, D.C., as Administrative Assistant to Congresswoman

Ruth Thompson Ruth Thompson (September 15, 1887 – April 5, 1970) was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. A lawyer by profession, she served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1951 to 1957. Biography Early l ...

, Engel returned to Michigan to practice law in what became the law firm of Engle and Engel until his election as Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Michigan in 1966. He and his father were active in the management of a Christmas tree farm known as Engelwood Plantations in Lake City, Michigan, from his return from the service until 1969.

Federal judicial service

Engel was nominated by President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

on December 15, 1970, to a seat on the

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (in case citations, W.D. Mich.) is the federal district court with jurisdiction over the western portion of the state of Michigan, including the entire Upper Peninsula and th ...

vacated by Judge W. Wallace Kent. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

on December 17, 1970, and received his commission on December 18, 1970. Engel took his oath of office and entered duty on January 21, 1971. His service terminated on January 4, 1974, due to elevation to the Sixth Circuit. Engel was nominated by President Nixon on December 5, 1973, to a seat on the

vacated by Judge W. Wallace Kent. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 1973, and received his commission on December 19, 1973. He took his oath of office and entered duty on January 4, 1974. He served as Chief Judge from April 1, 1988, to October 1, 1989. He assumed senior status on October 1, 1989. He closed his office on December 31, 2002, and took inactive senior status. His service terminated on April 5, 2013, due to his death in

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

Honor

The United States Courts Library in Grand Rapids was officially named the Albert J. Engel United States Courts Library on December 19, 2003.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Engel, Albert Joseph Jr. 1924 births 2013 deaths University of Michigan Law School alumni Michigan state court judges Judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan United States district court judges appointed by Richard Nixon Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit United States court of appeals judges appointed by Richard Nixon People from Lake City, Michigan Michigan Republicans