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{{Short description|American judge}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
|name = Harold Ryan
| name = Harold Lyman Ryan
|honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
|image =
| image = District Judge Hal Ryan.jpg
|alt =
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
|caption =
| caption = Ryan in 1981
|office = [[Senior Status|Senior Judge]]<br>of the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] for [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho|Idaho]]
| office = [[Senior status|Senior Judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho]]
|term_start = {{Start date|1992|12|30}}
| term_start = December 30, 1992
|term_end = {{Start date|1995|4|10}}
| term_end = April 10, 1995
|office1 = Chief Judge<br>of the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] for [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho|Idaho]]
| office1 = Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
|term_start1 = 1988
| term_start1 = 1988
|term_end1 = 1992
| term_end1 = 1992
|predecessor1 = [[Marion Jones Callister|Marion Callister]]
| predecessor1 = [[Marion Jones Callister|Marion Callister]]
|successor1 = [[Edward Lodge]]
| successor1 = [[Edward Lodge]]
|office2 = Judge<br>of the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] for [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho|Idaho]]
| office2 = Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
|term_start2 = {{Start date|1981|12|17}}
| term_start2 = December 17, 1981
|term_end2 = {{Start date|1992|12|30}}
| term_end2 = December 30, 1992
|appointer2 = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| nominator2 =
|predecessor2 = [[Raymond Clyne McNichols|Ray McNichols]]
| appointer2 = [[List of federal judges appointed by Ronald Reagan|Ronald Reagan]]
|successor2 = [[B. Lynn Winmill]]
| predecessor2 = [[Raymond Clyne McNichols|Raymond McNichols]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1923|06|17}}
|birth_place = [[Weiser, Idaho|Weiser]], [[Idaho]]
| successor2 = [[B. Lynn Winmill]]
| pronunciation =
|death_date = {{death date and age|1995|04|10|1923|06|17}}
|death_place = [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], Idaho
| birth_name = Harold Lyman Ryan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|06|17}}
|restingplace = Morris Hill Cemetery<br>Boise, Idaho
| birth_place = [[Weiser, Idaho|Weiser]], [[Idaho]]
|restingplacecoordinates =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|04|10|1923|06|17}}
|birthname = Harold Lyman Ryan
| death_place = [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], [[Idaho]]
|citizenship =
| death_cause =
|nationality = [[United States|American]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| resting_place = Morris Hill Cemetery<br>Boise, Idaho
| resting_place_coordinates =
|otherparty = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
| citizenship =
|spouse = Ann Dagres Ryan (b.1926)<br>(m.1961–1995, his death)
| nationality =
|partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|relations =
|children = 3 sons
| otherparty =
|residence =
| height =
| spouse = Ann (Dagres) Ryan {{nowrap|(b.1926, m.1961)}}
|alma_mater = [[University of Idaho College of Law|University of Idaho]]<br><small>[[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]], 1950</small><ref name=fjdhry>{{cite web|url=http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=2080&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na |publisher=Federal Judicial Center |title=Harold Ryan biography |accessdate=September 16, 2015}}</ref>
|occupation =
| partner =
|profession = [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
| relations =
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| children = 3 sons
|committees =
| parents =
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|religion =
| father =
|signature =
| relatives =
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|signature_alt =
| education = [[University of Idaho]]<br>[[University of Idaho College of Law|College of Law]] {{nowrap|<small>([[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]], 1950)</small>}}
|website =
|footnotes =
| alma_mater =
|allegiance = {{USA}}
| occupation =
| profession =
|branch = [[File:Seal of the United States Department of the Navy.svg|15px]] &nbsp;[[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]
| known_for =
| rank = [[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|5px]] &nbsp;[[Lieutenant (junior grade)|Lieutenant (j.g.)]]
| unit = [[USS Merrick (AKA-97)|U.S.S. Merrick]]
| salary =
| serviceyears = 1944–1946
| net_worth =
| battles = [[World War II]]
| cabinet =
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| religion =
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| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
<!--Embedded templates / Footnotes-->
| footnotes =
<!--Military service-->
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{USA}}
| branch = [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1943–1946
| rank = [[File:US-O1 insignia.svg|5px]] [[Ensign (rank)#United States|Ensign]]
| unit = {{USS|Merrick|AKA-97|6}}
| commands =
| battles = [[World War II]]<br> ([[Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II|Pacific Theater]])
| mawards = <!-- for military awards - appears as "Awards" if |awards= is not set -->
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}}
<!--[[File:District Judge Hal Ryan.jpg|thumb|U.S. District Court Judge Hal Ryan]]-->
'''Harold Lyman Ryan''' (June 17, 1923 - April 10, 1995) was an [[Lawyer|attorney]] and [[federal judge]] in [[Idaho]].<ref name=jhrscr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qDwjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g_EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3087%2C216434 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Judge Harold Ryan succumbs to cancer |date=April 11, 1995 |page=B1 }}</ref>
'''Harold Lyman Ryan''' (June 17, 1923 – April 10, 1995) was an [[Lawyer|attorney]] and [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho]].


== Education and career history ==
== Education ==
Born and raised in [[Weiser, Idaho]], Ryan graduated from [[Weiser High School]] in 1941,<ref name=lmtusjry>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b8BeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2577%2C2542449 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |agency=Associated Press |title=U.S. District Judge Ryan dies at 71 |date=April 11, 1995 |page=6A }}</ref> and attended the [[University of Idaho]] in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] from 1941 to 1943,<ref name=gom43sph>{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1943/79 |publisher=''Gem of the Mountains,'' University of Idaho yearbook |title=Sophomores |year=1943 |page=75}}</ref> then enlisted in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]].<ref>http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=Harold+Lyman+Ryan+1923-1995-cr.xml Harold Ryan Biography</ref> He attended the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]] under the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]], completed [[midshipman|midshipmen's school]] at the [[University of Notre Dame]], and graduated with a commission as an [[Ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]] in 1944. Ryan served the remainder of [[World War II]] in the [[Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II|Pacific Theater]] aboard the [[USS Merrick (AKA-97)|U.S.S. Merrick]].
Born and raised in [[Weiser, Idaho|Weiser]], [[Idaho]], Ryan graduated from [[Weiser High School]] in 1941,<ref name=lmtusjry>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b8BeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2577%2C2542449 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=U.S. District Judge Ryan dies at 71 |date=April 11, 1995 |page=6A }}</ref> and attended the [[University of Idaho]] in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] from 1941 to 1943,<ref name=gom43sph>{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1943/79 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Sophomores |year=1943 |page=75}}</ref> then enlisted in the {{nowrap| [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snaccooperative.org/view/65465655|title=Ryan, Harold Lyman, 1923-1995. - Social Networks and Archival Context|website=snaccooperative.org}}</ref>}}


He attended the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]] under the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]], completed [[midshipman|midshipmen's school]] at the [[University of Notre Dame]] in [[South Bend, Indiana]], and graduated with a commission as an [[Ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]] {{nowrap|in 1944.}} Ryan served the remainder of [[World War II]] in the [[Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II|Pacific Theater]] aboard the {{USS|Merrick|AKA-97|6}}.
Ryan returned to the University of Idaho in 1946<ref name=gom47sr>{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/64 |publisher=''Gem of the Mountains,'' University of Idaho yearbook |title=Seniors |year=1947 |page=64}}</ref> and entered its [[University of Idaho College of Law|College of Law]], graduating in January 1950. He was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted]] to the Idaho [[State bar association|State Bar]] in 1950, and returned to Weiser to practice law with his father, Frank D. Ryan. Ryan served as a deputy [[prosecutor]] of [[Washington County, Idaho|Washington County]] from 1951 to 1952, and was elected to the [[Idaho Senate|state senate]] in 1962 and served from 1963 to 1966. While in the Senate, Ryan took a particular interest in modernizing the Idaho judiciary and served as Chairman of the Joint Commission of the [[Idaho Legislature]] which instituted sweeping reform by reorganizing and modernizing the state judicial system, creating a court administration, and forming the Idaho Judicial Council. He also served as president of the Idaho state bar from 1967 to 1969.


Ryan returned to the University of Idaho in 1946,<ref name=gom47sr>{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/64 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Seniors |year=1947 |page=64}}</ref> and entered its [[University of Idaho College of Law|College of Law]], graduating in January 1950 with a [[Bachelor of Laws]].
After serving as campaign director for [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[James A. McClure|Jim McClure]] in 1978, McClure recommended Ryan to [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in July 1981 to fill a seat on the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho| District of Idaho]] vacated by [[Raymond Clyne McNichols|Ray McNichols]].<ref name=njnom>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ODwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4059%2C830170 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=UPI |title=New judge nominated |date=July 20, 1981 |page=7 }}</ref><ref name=watfjsp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LfhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1842%2C2170095 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Weiser attorney tapped for judgeship |date=July 21, 1981 |page=6 }}</ref> Reagan appointed Ryan on December 7 and he was confirmed by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] on December 16, 1981.<ref name=fjdhry/> Ryan served a term as [[chief judge]] from 1988 to 1992, and assumed [[senior status]] on December 30, 1992.<ref name=jrptpret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W8MjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3dAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2978%2C1894636 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Judge Ryan plans to partially retire |date=December 12, 1992 |page=4A}}</ref>


==Early career==
Ryan remained on the bench until his death from [[cancer]] on April 10, 1995,<ref name=jhrscr/><ref name=lmtusjry/> and is buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.
Ryan was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted]] to the Idaho [[State bar association|State Bar]] in 1950, and returned to Weiser to practice law with his father, {{nowrap|Frank D. Ryan.}} He served as a deputy [[prosecutor]] of [[Washington County, Idaho|Washington County]] from 1951 to 1952, and was elected to the [[Idaho Senate|Idaho state senate]] in 1962 and served from 1963 to 1966.


While in the state senate, Ryan took a particular interest in modernizing the Idaho judiciary and served as Chairman of the Joint Commission of the [[Idaho Legislature]] which instituted sweeping reform by reorganizing and modernizing the state judicial system, creating a court administration, and forming the Idaho Judicial Council. He also served as president of the Idaho state bar from 1967 to 1969.
== Notable cases ==
In the mid 1980s, Ryan ruled in favor of inmate Walter "Bud" Balla and others that conditions in the state prison violated their constitutional rights. He imposed a cap on inmate population which necessitated the construction of a new maximum security facility.<ref>Balla v. Idaho State Board of Corrections Opinion {{PMID|11648545}}</ref>


==Federal judicial service==
In the early 1990s, Ryan was involved in the [[Ruby Ridge]] case. <ref>''US DOJ OPR Ruby Ridge Task Force Report, June 10, 1994'', IV. Specific Issues Investigated, B. The Failure of Weaver to Appear for TriaL, 2. Statement of Facts, c. February 20, 1991 - The Rescheduled Trial Date. "On February 20, Howen and defense counsel Hofmeister appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harold L. Ryan. At that time, Hofmeister told the court that he had been unable to contact Weaver."</ref>
After serving as campaign director for [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[James A. McClure|Jim McClure]] in 1978, McClure recommended Ryan to [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in July 1981 to fill a seat on the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho|U.S. District Court]] vacated by Judge [[Raymond Clyne McNichols|Raymond McNichols]].<ref name=njnom>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ODwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=4059%2C830170 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=UPI |title=New judge nominated |date=July 20, 1981 |page=7 }}</ref><ref name=watfjsp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LfhLAAAAIBAJ&pg=1842%2C2170095 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Weiser attorney tapped for judgeship |date=July 21, 1981 |page=6 }}</ref> He was nominated by President Reagan on December 7, confirmed by the Senate on December 16, and received commission on December 17, 1981.<ref name=“bio”>{{FJC Bio|nid=1387281|inline=yes}}</ref>


Ryan served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 1992, then assumed [[senior status]] on December 30, 1992, and continued until his death from [[cancer]] on April 10, 1995.<ref name=“bio”/><ref name=lmtusjry/><ref name=jrptpret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W8MjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2978%2C1894636 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Judge Ryan plans to partially retire |date=December 12, 1992 |page=4A}}</ref><ref name=jhrscr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qDwjAAAAIBAJ&pg=3087%2C216434 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Judge Harold Ryan succumbs to cancer |date=April 11, 1995 |page=B1 }}</ref> He is buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.
In the spring of 1993, Ryan ruled in favor of the state of Idaho in its long-running dispute with the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] over storage of nuclear waste at the [[Idaho National Laboratory]] in [[Eastern Idaho|eastern]] Idaho. As a consequence, the U.S. government significantly reduced the amount of low-level nuclear waste shipped to Idaho.

=== Notable cases ===
*In the spring of 1982, recaptured fugitive spy [[Christopher John Boyce|Christopher Boyce]] was sentenced by Ryan to three years for his escape and to 25 years for bank robbery, conspiracy, and breaking federal gun laws.<ref name=lmtguipl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xMdeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2049%2C703472 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Boyce enters guilty plea to 10 counts |date=April 3, 1982 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=bfsen>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=28teAAAAIBAJ&pg=6184%2C5867272 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Boyce faces sentence |date=April 30, 1982 |page=5B}}</ref><ref name=lmtsent>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0MBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2565%2C151795 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Boyce sentenced to 25 years |date=May 1, 1982 |page=3B}}</ref>
*In the mid-1980s, Ryan ruled in favor of inmate Walter "Bud" Balla and others that conditions in the state prison violated their constitutional rights. He imposed a cap on inmate population which necessitated the construction of a new maximum security facility.<ref>Balla v. Idaho State Board of Corrections Opinion {{PMID|11648545}}</ref>
*In early 1991, Ryan issued the [[Arrest warrant#Bench warrant|bench warrant]] for [[Randy Weaver]], which led to the [[Ruby Ridge]] standoff in August 1992.<ref>''US DOJ OPR Ruby Ridge Task Force Report, June 10, 1994'', IV. Specific Issues Investigated, B. The Failure of Weaver to Appear for TriaL, 2. Statement of Facts, c. February 20, 1991 - The Rescheduled Trial Date. "On February 20, Howen and defense counsel Hofmeister appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harold L. Ryan. At that time, Hofmeister told the court that he had been unable to contact Weaver."</ref>
{{clear}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{FJC Bio|nid=1387281}}
* [http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=2080&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na Harold Lyman Ryan] at the [[Biographical Directory of Federal Judges]], a [[public domain]] publication of the [[Federal Judicial Center]].
*{{Find a Grave|60084607}}
*{{Find a Grave|60084607}}


{{s-start}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{s-legal}}
| NAME = Ryan, Harold Lyman
{{s-bef|before=[[Raymond Clyne McNichols]]}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho]]}}|years=1981–1992}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = U.S. Federal District Judge
{{s-aft|after=[[B. Lynn Winmill]]}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = June 17, 1923
{{s-bef|before=[[Marion Jones Callister]]}}
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Weiser, Idaho
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Chief Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Idaho]]}}|years=1988–1992}}
| DATE OF DEATH = April 10, 1995
{{s-aft|after=[[Edward Lodge]]}}
| PLACE OF DEATH = Boise, Idaho
}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Harold Lyman}}


{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Harold Lyman}}
[[Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho]]
[[Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho]]
[[Category:United States district court judges appointed by Ronald Reagan]]
[[Category:United States district court judges appointed by Ronald Reagan]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:20th-century American judges]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:University of Idaho alumni]]
[[Category:University of Idaho alumni]]
[[Category:People from Washington County, Idaho]]
[[Category:People from Weiser, Idaho]]
[[Category:Idaho State Senators]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Idaho]]
[[Category:Republican Party Idaho state senators]]
[[Category:Idaho lawyers]]
[[Category:Idaho lawyers]]
[[Category:Idaho Republicans]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Idaho College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]

Latest revision as of 05:08, 28 May 2024

Harold Lyman Ryan
Ryan in 1981
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office
December 30, 1992 – April 10, 1995
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office
1988–1992
Preceded byMarion Callister
Succeeded byEdward Lodge
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
In office
December 17, 1981 – December 30, 1992
Appointed byRonald Reagan
Preceded byRaymond McNichols
Succeeded byB. Lynn Winmill
Personal details
Born
Harold Lyman Ryan

(1923-06-17)June 17, 1923
Weiser, Idaho
DiedApril 10, 1995(1995-04-10) (aged 71)
Boise, Idaho
Resting placeMorris Hill Cemetery
Boise, Idaho
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAnn (Dagres) Ryan (b.1926, m.1961)
Children3 sons
EducationUniversity of Idaho
College of Law (LL.B., 1950)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceU.S. Navy
Years of service1943–1946
Rank Ensign
UnitUSS Merrick
Battles/warsWorld War II
(Pacific Theater)

Harold Lyman Ryan (June 17, 1923 – April 10, 1995) was an attorney and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.

Education

[edit]

Born and raised in Weiser, Idaho, Ryan graduated from Weiser High School in 1941,[1] and attended the University of Idaho in Moscow from 1941 to 1943,[2] then enlisted in the U.S. Navy.[3]

He attended the University of Washington in Seattle under the V-12 Navy College Training Program, completed midshipmen's school at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and graduated with a commission as an ensign in 1944. Ryan served the remainder of World War II in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Merrick.

Ryan returned to the University of Idaho in 1946,[4] and entered its College of Law, graduating in January 1950 with a Bachelor of Laws.

Early career

[edit]

Ryan was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 1950, and returned to Weiser to practice law with his father, Frank D. Ryan. He served as a deputy prosecutor of Washington County from 1951 to 1952, and was elected to the Idaho state senate in 1962 and served from 1963 to 1966.

While in the state senate, Ryan took a particular interest in modernizing the Idaho judiciary and served as Chairman of the Joint Commission of the Idaho Legislature which instituted sweeping reform by reorganizing and modernizing the state judicial system, creating a court administration, and forming the Idaho Judicial Council. He also served as president of the Idaho state bar from 1967 to 1969.

Federal judicial service

[edit]

After serving as campaign director for Senator Jim McClure in 1978, McClure recommended Ryan to President Ronald Reagan in July 1981 to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court vacated by Judge Raymond McNichols.[5][6] He was nominated by President Reagan on December 7, confirmed by the Senate on December 16, and received commission on December 17, 1981.[7]

Ryan served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 1992, then assumed senior status on December 30, 1992, and continued until his death from cancer on April 10, 1995.[7][1][8][9] He is buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.

Notable cases

[edit]
  • In the spring of 1982, recaptured fugitive spy Christopher Boyce was sentenced by Ryan to three years for his escape and to 25 years for bank robbery, conspiracy, and breaking federal gun laws.[10][11][12]
  • In the mid-1980s, Ryan ruled in favor of inmate Walter "Bud" Balla and others that conditions in the state prison violated their constitutional rights. He imposed a cap on inmate population which necessitated the construction of a new maximum security facility.[13]
  • In early 1991, Ryan issued the bench warrant for Randy Weaver, which led to the Ruby Ridge standoff in August 1992.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "U.S. District Judge Ryan dies at 71". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 11, 1995. p. 6A.
  2. ^ "Sophomores". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1943. p. 75.
  3. ^ "Ryan, Harold Lyman, 1923-1995. - Social Networks and Archival Context". snaccooperative.org.
  4. ^ "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1947. p. 64.
  5. ^ "New judge nominated". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). UPI. July 20, 1981. p. 7.
  6. ^ "Weiser attorney tapped for judgeship". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 21, 1981. p. 6.
  7. ^ a b Harold Lyman Ryan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  8. ^ "Judge Ryan plans to partially retire". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. December 12, 1992. p. 4A.
  9. ^ "Judge Harold Ryan succumbs to cancer". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 11, 1995. p. B1.
  10. ^ "Boyce enters guilty plea to 10 counts". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 3, 1982. p. 1B.
  11. ^ "Boyce faces sentence". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 30, 1982. p. 5B.
  12. ^ "Boyce sentenced to 25 years". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 1, 1982. p. 3B.
  13. ^ Balla v. Idaho State Board of Corrections Opinion PMID 11648545
  14. ^ US DOJ OPR Ruby Ridge Task Force Report, June 10, 1994, IV. Specific Issues Investigated, B. The Failure of Weaver to Appear for TriaL, 2. Statement of Facts, c. February 20, 1991 - The Rescheduled Trial Date. "On February 20, Howen and defense counsel Hofmeister appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harold L. Ryan. At that time, Hofmeister told the court that he had been unable to contact Weaver."
[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
1981–1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho
1988–1992 		Succeeded by
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