Wendell Alverson Miles

Who was Wendell Alverson Miles?

Wendell Alverson Miles was a United States federal judge.

Born in Holland, Michigan, Miles received an A.B. from Hope College in 1938, a M.A. from the University of Wyoming in 1939, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1942. He was in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1947, serving primarily in Britain and France. He was an Instructor at Hope College while in private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1948 to 1953, also serving as a prosecuting attorney of Ottawa County, Michigan from 1948 to 1953. He was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan from 1953 to 1960. After running unsuccessfully for Michigan Attorney General as the Republican nominee in 1960, he returned to private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1961 to 1970. He was a Circuit Judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Michigan from 1970 to 1974.

On March 29, 1974, Miles was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan vacated by Albert Joseph Engel, Jr.. Miles was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 10, 1974, and received his commission on April 17, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1979 to 1986, assuming senior status on May 6, 1986. He was a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 1989 to 1996.