Background
O'Neill, Thomas Newman was born on July 6, 1928 in Hanover, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Thomas Newman and Emma (Cornpropst) O'N.
O'Neill, Thomas Newman was born on July 6, 1928 in Hanover, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Thomas Newman and Emma (Cornpropst) O'N.
Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude, Catholic U. American, 1950; Bachelor of Laws magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania, 1953; postgraduate (Fulbright grantee), London School Economics, 1955-1956.
Born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, O'Neill was in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve from 1948 to 1953. He received an A.B. from Catholic University of America in 1950 and an LL.B. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953. He was a law clerk to Judge Herbert F. Goodrich, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit from 1953 to 1954, and to Justice Harold H. Burton, Supreme Court of the United States from 1954 to 1955.
He was a Fulbright scholar, London School of Economics from 1955 to 1956. He was in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1956 to 1983. On June 21, 1983, O'Neill was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Edward R. Becker.
O'Neill was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 4, 1983, and received his commission on August 5, 1983. He assumed senior status on July 6, 1996.
Former trustee Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Former member Governor's Trial Court Nominating Common for Philadelphia County. Former member board overseers University of Pennsylvania Museum.
Fellow American College Trial Lawyers. Member American Law Institute (life), Philadelphia BarAssn. (chancellor 1976), Pennsylvania Bar Association (governor 1978-1981), University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society (president 1976-1977), Pennsylvania Conference County Bar Officers (president 1981-1982), American Inn of Court (founding chairman University of Pennsylvania), Order of Coif (president University of Pennsylvania chapter 1971-1973), Merion Cricket Club, Edgemere Club, Broadacres Trouting Association Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma.
Married Jeanne M. Corresponding, Feb.4, 1961. Children: Caroline Jeanne, Thomas Newman, III, Ellen Gitt.