Philip Nichols

Philip Nichols Jr. (August 11, 1907 – January 26, 1990) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and previously was a judge of the United States Customs Court and the United States Court of Claims.

Education and career

Born August 11, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts, Nichols received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1929 from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor in 1932 from Harvard Law School. He entered private practice in Boston from 1932 to 1938. He was a special attorney for the Lands Division of the United States Department of Justice from 1938 to 1941. He was a special attorney for the Legal Division of the War Production Board from 1942 to 1944. He was a United States Navy lieutenant commander from 1944 to 1946. He was assistant general counsel for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1947 to 1951. He was general counsel for the Renegotiation Board from 1951 to 1954. He returned to private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1954 to 1961. He was Commissioner of Customs for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1961 to 1964.

Federal judicial service

Nichols was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 16, 1964, to a seat on the United States Customs Court vacated by Judge Irvin C. Mollison. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 1964, and received his commission on September 15, 1964. His service terminated on November 30, 1966, due to his elevation to the Court of Claims.