Alan Angus McDonald

Who was Alan Angus McDonald?

Alan Angus McDonald was a United States federal judge.

Born in Harrah, Washington, McDonald received a B.S. from the University of Washington in 1950 and an LL.B. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1952. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney of Yakima County, Washington from 1952 to 1954, and was in private practice in Yakima, Washington from 1954 until 1985.

On September 11, 1985, McDonald was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington created by 98 Stat. 333. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 16, 1985, and received his commission on October 17, 1985. He assumed senior status on December 13, 1996, serving in that capacity for until his death, in Yakima.

McDonald was accused in the Washington media of making racist jokes about people who appeared in his courtroom. In introducing a House Resolution condemning the actions of Judge McDonald, Rep. John Conyers stated that he had "made or participated in numerous communications that referred to racial, ethic and religious minorities in demeaning, stereotypical and racist language, including references to Latino defendants and lawyers as 'greasers,' an African-Americans plaintiff as 'impo-tent' and maligning Mormons, Jew and Chinese for corrupt financial practices."