Background
Nichols, Philip was born on August 11, 1907 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Philip and Mabel (Gibson) Nichols.
Nichols, Philip was born on August 11, 1907 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Philip and Mabel (Gibson) Nichols.
Bachelor of Arts, Harvard University, 1929; Bachelor of Laws, Harvard University, 1932.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts Nichols received an Artium Baccalaureus from Harvard University in 1929 and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1932. He was in private practice in Boston from 1932 to 1938. He was a special attorney of Lands Division, United States Department of Justice from 1938 to 1941, and then a special attorney of the Legal Division, United States. War Production Board from 1942 to 1944.
He was an assistant general counsel to the United States Department of the Treasury from 1947 to 1951.
He was a general counsel to the Renegotiation Board from 1951 to 1954. He returned to private practice in Washington, District of Columbia from 1954 to 1961.
He was Commissioner of Customs for the Treasury Department from 1961 to 1964. On June 16, 1964, President Johnson nominated Nichols to serve as a Judge of the United States Customs Court, to the seat vacated by Irvin Charles Mollison.
He was confirmed by the Senate on September 15, 1964 and received his commission the same day.
On October 6, 1966, President Johnson nominated Nichols to serve as a Judge for the United States Court of Claims to a new seat. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 21, 1966 and received his commission on November 3, 1966, with Judge Herbert North. Maletz succeeding him on the Customs Court. On October 1, 1982, he was transferred by operation of law to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
He took senior status on October 1, 1983 and remained in that status until his death.
He was succeeded by Judge Pauline Newman. Nichols died on January 26, 1990, in Washington, District of Columbia
Served from Lieutenant (junior grade) to Lieutenant commander of The United States Navy Reserve, 1943-1946. Member Federal, American bar associations.
Married Dorothy Jackson, April 19, 1940. Children: Donald, Patricia, Christopher.