William Lynn Parkinson

William Lynn Parkinson (September 18, 1902 – October 26, 1959) was a United States federal judge.

Education and career

Born in Attica, Indiana, Parkinson read law to enter the bar in 1923. He was in private practice in Lafayette, Indiana from 1923 to 1937. He was a judge on the Tippecanoe Circuit Court, Indiana from 1937 to 1954.

Federal judicial service

On August 2, 1954, Parkinson was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana created by 68 Stat. 8. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 1954, and received his commission the same day.

On August 21, 1957, Eisenhower nominated Parkinson for elevation to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Hardress Nathan Swaim. Parkinson was again confirmed by the United States Senate on August 22, 1957, and received his commission on August 26, 1957. Parkinson served in that capacity until his death.

Death

Parkinson disappeared on October 26, 1959, under mysterious circumstances while returning to his apartment from his Chicago, Illinois, judicial office. Witnesses who saw him shortly before his disappearance indicated that he appeared to be ill. He disappeared in the immediate area of Lake Michigan. His hat, sunglasses and umbrella were later found on the lake shore. His body was found six months later on April 24, 1960, in the water one half mile from where he disappeared and was positively identified. The cause of death was determined to be drowning. An inquest on May 2, 1960, indicated his death was under mysterious circumstances and did not rule out either natural death or foul play.^[1]

References

Sources

• William Lynn Parkinson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.