John David Clifford Jr.

Who was John David Clifford Jr.?

John David Clifford Jr. was the eighth United States District Judge for the District of Maine, serving from 1933 to 1947.

Born in Lewiston, Maine, Clifford received an A.B. from Bowdoin College in 1910 and a B.L. from Georgetown Law School in 1913. On July 14, 1915, he married Lucile E. Smith of Lansing, Michigan. Judge Clifford practiced law in Lewiston, Maine from 1914 until 1947. He had been active in the Democratic Party prior to his federal appointments and was a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1915 to 1916. He was a United States Attorney for the District of Maine from 1933 to 1947.

On January 10, 1947, Clifford was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maine vacated by John A. Peters. Clifford was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 14, 1947, and received his commission on March 24, 1947. He held that office until his death in 1956.

Clifford's nephew, Robert W. Clifford, son-in-law, Thomas E. Delahanty, and grandson, Thomas E. Delahanty II, have been judges in Maine. His grandson, Thomas E. Delahanty II, has held the United States Attorney position twice.