Albert Alphonso Ridge

Who was Albert Alphonso Ridge?

Albert Alphonso Ridge was a United States federal judge.

Born in Nevada, Missouri, Ridge was in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919 and was a deputy clerk of Jackson County, Missouri from 1919 to 1921 before reading law to enter the bar in 1923. He was in private practice in Missouri from 1925 to 1934, and was a judge on the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri from 1935 to 1945.

On March 12, 1945, Ridge was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by Merrill E. Otis. Ridge was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 3, 1945, and received his commission on April 7, 1945. He served as chief judge from 1959 to 1961. On May 23, 1961, President John F. Kennedy nominated Ridge to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Archibald K. Gardner. Ridge was again confirmed by the United States Senate on June 14, 1961, receiving his commission the following day.

He assumed senior status on April 16, 1965, and served in that capacity until his death.