Friendly, Henry Jacob, 1903-1986

<p>Born in Elmira, New York, Friendly received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Harvard College in 1923. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1927. On June 23, 1927, the Harvard Crimson reported that Friendly was the first Harvard Law graduate to receive a degree summa cum laude.[1] Felix Frankfurter, as a professor at Harvard Law School, sent his student Friendly to work as a clerk for Justice Louis Brandeis of the United States Supreme Court, where he served from 1927 to 1928.[2] He was in private practice of law in New York City, New York from 1928 to 1959. He was a founding partner of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, where his law partners included George W. Ball and Melvin Steen.[citation needed] He was vice president and general counsel of Pan American World Airways in New York City from 1946 to 1959.[3]<p></p>
<p>Friendly was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 10, 1959, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated by Judge Harold Medina. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 9, 1959, and received his commission on September 10, 1959. He served as Chief Judge and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1971 to 1973. He assumed senior status on April 15, 1974. He was a Judge of the Special Railroad Court from 1974 to 1986, serving as Presiding Judge from 1974 to 1986. His service was terminated on March 11, 1986, due to his death.[3]<p></p>