Background
Bartels, John Ries was born on November 8, 1897 in Baltimore. Son of William Nicholas and Louise (Reuter) Bartels.
Bartels, John Ries was born on November 8, 1897 in Baltimore. Son of William Nicholas and Louise (Reuter) Bartels.
Bachelor of Arts cum laude, Johns Hopkins, 1920; Bachelor of Laws, Harvard, 1923.
He was in the United States Army in 1918. He received an Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University in 1920 and an Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1923. He was in private practice of law in New York City from 1925 to 1959.
He was also a Justice of the State of New York Supreme Court for Kings County from 1950 to 1951.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 28, 1959, and received his commission on July 30, 1959. He assumed senior status on December 31, 1973 and heard cases until his death in Brooklyn, New York in 1997.
Among his high-profile cases was the 1989 trial and conviction of Gene Gotti, brother of reputed mafioso John Gotti. He was also the trial judge in the Zvonko Bušić case.
At the time of Bartels" death, he was the oldest living federal judge.
Director Brooklyn Council for Social Planning, 1953-1958. Member Mayor's Committee on Puerto Rican Affairs, New York City, 1955-1957. Alumni trustee Johns Hopkins, 1953-1954.
Former secretary board regents Long Island College Hospital. Former chairman lay advisory board Kings County Hospital Center. Board directors National Conference of Christians and Jews, Brotherhood-in-Action, Brooklyn Boys Club.
Fellow American College Trial Lawyers. Member American, New York State, Brooklyn bar associations, Association Bar City New York, New York County Lawyers Association, Fundacion Internacional Eloy Alfaro, American Law Institute, Federal Bar Council, American Judicature Society, Institute Judicial Administration, Squadron A Ex-Mems., Harvard Law School Association New York City (vice president), Omicron Delta Kappa, Delta Upsilon. Clubs: Harvard, Down Town Association, Lawyers, National Lawyers, Inc.
(honorary).
Married Anne Bell Willson, May 3, 1930. Children: John Ries, William Gilpin.