Thurmond Clarke

Who was Thurmond Clarke?

Thurmond Clarke was a United States federal judge.

Born in Santa Paula, California, Clarke received an LL.B. from the University of Southern California Law School in 1927. He was a deputy district attorney of Los Angeles County, California from 1927 to 1929, and then a deputy city attorney of the City of Los Angeles from 1929 to 1932. He was a judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1932 to 1935, and of the Superior Court of Los Angeles from 1935 to 1955.

On June 21, 1955, Clarke was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California created by 68 Stat. 8. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 1955, and received his commission on August 3, 1955. He became chief judge in 1966. On September 18, 1966, the District was subdivided, and Clarke was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He remained chief judge until 1970, assuming senior status on September 1, 1970, and serving in that capacity his death, which occurred within six months thereafter.