Gene Carter

Gene Carter (born November 1, 1935) is a United States federal judge.

Born in Milbridge, Maine, Carter received a B.A. from the University of Maine in 1958 and an LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1961. He was a law clerk to the Hon. J. Spencer Bell on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1961 to 1962, and was then in the United States Army Reserve, JAG Corps, from 1962 to 1968, achieving the rank of Captain. Carter entered private practice in Bangor, Maine in 1965, remaining in practice until 1980, when he became an Associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from 1980 to 1983.

On May 26, 1983, Carter was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maine vacated by Edward T. Gignoux. Carter was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 22, 1983, and received his commission on June 23, 1983. He served as chief judge from 1989-1996. In 1995-96, Carter was charged with an ethical violation involving allegations of dishonesty and favoritism in handling a civil matter. Juan Torruella, then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, required Carter to explain his actions. Carter issued a 21-page statement attempting to justify his actions. The ethical issue was never resolved.

Carter assumed senior status on January 2, 2003.

Sources

• Gene Carter at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

References

Legal offices
Preceded by Edward Thaxter Gignoux	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine 1983–2003	Succeeded by John A. Woodcock Jr.