William Glover Young (born 1940) is a United States federal judge for the District of Massachusetts.
Young was born in Huntington, New York. He attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He received an A.B. from Harvard University in 1962. He received a LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1967. He was a Captain in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. He was a law clerk for Hon. Raymond S. Wilkins, Chief Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1967 to 68. He was in private practice of law in Boston, Massachusetts from 1968 to 1972.
Young was a Special assistant attorney general of State of Massachusetts from 1970 to 1972 and chief counsel to the Governor of Massachusetts from 1972 to 1974. He was in private practice of law in Boston, Massachusetts from 1975 to 1978. He was an Associate justice, Superior Court of Massachusetts from 1978 to 1985. Young was a Lecturer in law, Boston College Law School, from 1968-to the present and at Boston University Law School, 1979â€"present. He was a Lecturer in law, Harvard Law School from 1979 to 1990.
Young sits as a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Young was first nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 11, 1984 to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333 but the nomination lapsed without a Senate vote. Reagan re-nominated him on March 8, 1985. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 3, 1985, and received his commission on April 4, 1985. He served as chief judge, 1999-2005.
Famous cases
Inauguration - Judge Young Speech - We were especially privileged to have the Honorable William J. Young of the United States District Court in Boston preside over the swearing in ceremony at Inauguration Night.
Patent cases
Judge Young is a respected federal judge in patent cases relating to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Judge Young has also heard important computer-related patent cases, including a patent infringement suit by a small company against RealNetworks. The jury found that the patents were invalid and the case was affirmed upon appeal.
Criminal cases
Judge Young has heard many famous criminal cases both as a Massachusetts state judge and as a federal judge, including the "Big Dan" rape case, the shoe bomber case, and the Boston Strangler case.
Judge Young was the trial judge in Massachusetts state court for the highly publicized 'Big Dan' rape case which was the inspiration for the movie The Accused starring Jodie Foster. Judge Young served as Chief Judge of the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1997 until 2005.
After his federal appointment Judge Young sentenced Richard Reid, better known as the shoe bomber, to 3 life terms plus 110 years in prison.
Constitutional law cases
Judge Young heard Singer v. Newton, the first case in the United States on the constitutionality of state and local regulation of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). Judge Young held that a city's regulations were unconstitutional because they interfered with the federal regulatory scheme created by Congress.
Judicial positions held
Private practice
- Boston, Massachusetts - 1968-1972
- Boston, Massachusetts - 1975-1978
Public positions
- Law clerk, Hon. Raymond S. Wilkins, Chief Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1967â€"68
- Special assistant attorney general, State of Massachusetts, 1970â€"1972
- Chief counsel to the Governor of Massachusetts, 1972â€"1974
- Associate justice, Superior Court of Massachusetts, 1978â€"1985
- Judge, United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, 1985â€"present
- Chief Judge, United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, 1999â€"2005
Education
Professional degrees
- Harvard University, A.B., 1962
- Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1967
Teaching positions
- Lecturer in law, Boston College Law School, 1968â€"present
- Lecturer in law, Boston University School of Law, 1979â€"present
- Lecturer in law, Harvard Law School, 1979â€"1990
Notes
References
- William G. Young at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
