Latham Castle

Latham Castle (February 27, 1900 – March 10, 1986) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Education and career

Born in Sandwich, Illinois, Castle was in the United States Army towards the end of World War I, in 1918, and then received a Bachelor of Laws from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 1924. He was in private practice in Sandwich from 1924 to 1925, and was a city attorney of Sandwich from 1925 to 1928, becoming a corporation counsel of Sycamore, Illinois in 1928. He was then a state's attorney of DeKalb County, Illinois from 1928 to 1940, becoming an assistant state attorney general of Illinois from 1940 to 1942. He was a County judge for DeKalb County from 1942 to 1952. He served as Attorney General from January 12, 1953, until May 8, 1959. He was succeeded as Attorney General by Grenville Beardsley.

Federal judicial service

On February 26, 1959, Castle was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Philip J. Finnegan. Castle was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 29, 1959, and received his commission on April 30, 1959. He served as Chief Judge from 1968 to 1970, assuming senior status on February 26, 1970, and serving in that capacity until his death on March 10, 1986.