Background
Curtin, John Thomas was born on August 24, 1921 in Buffalo. Son of John Jay and Ellen (Quigley) Curtin.
Curtin, John Thomas was born on August 24, 1921 in Buffalo. Son of John Jay and Ellen (Quigley) Curtin.
Bachelor of Science, Canisius College, 1945. Bachelor of Laws, University Buffalo, 1949.
He received a Bachelor of Surgery from Canisius College in 1946 and an Bachelor of Laws from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1949. He was in the United States. Marine Corps Reserve from 1952 to 1954. He was in private practice in Buffalo from 1949 to 1961, and was then the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 1961 to 1967.
On November 28, 1967, Curtin was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York created by 80 Statistics
75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 14, 1967, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1974 to 1989, assuming senior status on July 1, 1989.
In 1976, Curtin ruled on the case Arthur v. Nyquist, which effected the integration of the Buffalo Public School District.
He ruled that schools were "deliberately segregated" and that they would need to begin desegregation efforts immediately.
The plaintiffs in this case were a group of concerned parents and their attorney George Arthur. The defense was the Buffalo Public School District and Edwald Nyquist.
Served to lieutenant colonel United States Marine Corps, 1942-1945, United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1952-1954. Member American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Erie County Bar Association.
Married Jane R. Good, August 9, 1952. Children: Ann Elizabeth, John James, Patricia Marie, Eileen Jane, Mary Ellen, Mark Andrew, William Joseph.