Scope and Contents
The collection comprises the papers of Judge Edward R. Becker, who served both with the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. His papers include correspondence, court memoranda, other court-related documents, speeches, subject files, programs and fliers, and newspaper and journal clippings, mainly related to cases over which he presided. Materials cover from 1943 to 2006, with the bulk from 1972 to 2006.
There are some case materials included in the collection, including papers focusing on Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp.. Much of the collection is focused on Becker's other judicial activities though, including his work with asbestos legislation, the Judicial Conference of the United States, and Third Circuit task forces on indigent litigants and the death penalty. Also included are plans for the timing of hiring law clerks in the federal courts, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, especially on representing asylum-seekers in the federal courts, and research on legal concepts such as sentencing guidelines, class action lawsuits, and expert evidence in court hearings. There are also materials related to the Senate confirmation hearings for Justice Samuel A. Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. Finally, a small but significant part of the collection includes papers related to Becker's different civic activities, including his work creating a Magna Carta exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dates
- 1943-2006
Creator
Language of Materials
The material is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy, which is retained by the repository. Researchers wishing to obtain an additional copy of non-commercially produced items for their personal use should consult the ordering reproductions information on the Manuscripts and Archives web site. Copies of commercially produced audiovisual materials contained in this collection cannot be made for researcher use outside of the repository.
Original computer files may not be accessed due to their fragility. Researchers must consult access copies.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by Edward R. Becker was transferred to Yale University in 2013. These materials may be used for non-commercial purposes without seeking permission from Yale University as the copyright holder. For other uses of these materials, please contact beinecke.library@yale.edu. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Flora Lyman Becker, 2013.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in eight series: I. Correspondence, 1970-2006. II. Judicial activities, 1970-2006. III. Subject files, 1970-2005. IV. Clippings, 1943-2006. V. Professional organizations, 1961-2006. VI. Civic organizations and educational programs, 1979-2006. VII. Personal papers, 1950-2005.
Extent
31.86 Linear Feet (74 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The collection comprises the papers of Judge Edward R. Becker, who served both with the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. His papers include correspondence, court memorandums, other court-related documents, speeches, subject files, programs and fliers, and newspaper and journal clippings, mainly related to cases over which he presided. Materials cover from 1943 to 2006, with the bulk from 1972 to 2006.
Biographical / Historical
Edward Roy Becker was born on May 4, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for his B.A., graduating in 1954. He then received his LL. B. from Yale University in 1957. After graduation, he went into a private law practice, Becker and Becker. He worked in the practice for 13 years. In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon appointed Becker to the United States District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Becker to the United States Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit. He went on to become the chief judge in 1998 and held that position until May 4, 2003. On that date (his 70th birthday), he was mandatorily assigned senior status. Becker continued to serve on the court until his death from prostate cancer on May 19, 2006. During his time as a judge, he was known to be an expert on antitrust law and use of expert evidence in trials. He also worked on many notable cases, including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., Artway v. The Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and E.B. v. Verniero, Karcher v. May, United States et al. v. the American Library Association and Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor.
Separated Materials
Best Practices in Representing Asylum-Seekers A video Resource for Pro Bono Attorneys 2-DVD set by the American Law Institute (formerly in Box 79) was damaged and the files could not be transferred. The material was discarded in 2021.
- Alito, Samuel A., Jr., 1950-
- Antitrust law
- Asbestos -- Law and legislation
- Becker, Edward R. (Edward Roy), 1933-2006
- Evidence, Expert
- Judges
- Jurisprudence
- Law -- Interpretation and construction
- Philadelphia (Pa.)
- Specter, Arlen, 1930-2012
- United States. Court of Appeals (Third Circuit)
- United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District)
- Title
- Guide to the Edward R. Becker Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- compiled by Christy Tomecek
- Date
- March 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511