Michael Joseph Roche

Michael Joseph Roche (July 22, 1878 – July 1, 1964) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Michael Joseph Roche
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office March 1, 1958 – July 1, 1964
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office 1948–1958
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Louis Earl Goodman
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office August 24, 1935 – March 1, 1958
Appointed by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Frank Henry Kerrigan
Succeeded by	Albert Charles Wollenberg
Personal details
Born	Michael Joseph Roche (1878-07-22)July 22, 1878 An Rinn, Ireland
Died	July 1, 1964(1964-07-01) (aged 85)
Education	Valparaiso University School of Law (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born in An Rinn, County Waterford, Ireland, the son of William and Bridget Foley Roche, Roche received a Bachelor of Laws from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1908. He entered private practice in San Francisco, California in 1908, and was an assistant district attorney of San Francisco from 1908 to 1910. He was a judge of the Municipal Court of San Francisco from 1910 to 1914, and of the Superior Court of California in San Francisco from 1918 to 1935.[1]

Federal judicial service

On August 21, 1935, Roche was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge Frank Henry Kerrigan.[2] Roche was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 23, 1935, and received his commission on August 24, 1935. He served as Chief Judge from 1948 to 1958, assuming senior status on March 1, 1958 and serving in that capacity until his death on July 1, 1964.[1]

Notable cases

Roche presided over the trial of Tokyo Rose.[3][4] He also denied a writ of Habeas corpus from lawyer James Purcell on behalf of Mitsuye Endo and 120,000 persons of Japanese descent challenging their unlawful detention. The Supreme Court heard the case, Ex Parte Endo and freed Endo.

References

1. Michael Joseph Roche at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "Roche Picked for Judgeship, Lea Gets Go-by". Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 August 1935. p. 4. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
3. "Tokyo Rose Jury Still Out". Oakland Tribune. 1949-09-29. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
4. "Tokyo Rose Is Placed on Trial". Casper Star-Tribune. 1949-07-05. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-06-26.

Sources

• Michael Joseph Roche at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Frank Henry Kerrigan	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California 1935–1958	Succeeded by Albert Charles Wollenberg
Preceded by Office established	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California 1948–1958	Succeeded by Louis Earl Goodman