THE HONORABLE JOHN H. PRATT
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Oral History Project
The Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit
Oral History Project United States Courts
The Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit
District of Columbia Circuit
The Honorable John H. Pratt
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Interviews conducted by:
Jacob A. Stein, Esquire
1992, 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Oral History Agreements
Honorable John H. Pratt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii
Jacob A. Stein, Esq.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Biographical Sketches
Honorable John H. Pratt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Jacob A. Stein, Esq.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Oral History Transcript of Interviews conducted in 1992 and 1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1
NOTE
The following pages record interviews conducted in 1992 and 1993. The interviews were
electronically recorded, and the transcription was subsequently reviewed and edited by
the interviewee.
The contents hereof and all literary rights pertaining hereto are governed by, and are
subject to, the Oral History Agreements included herewith.
© 1996 Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit.
All rights reserved.
PREFACE
The goal of the Oral History Project of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia
Circuit is to preserve the recollections of the judges who sat on the U.S. Courts of the
District of Columbia Circuit, and judges’ spouses, lawyers and court staff who played
important roles in the history of the Circuit. The Project began in 1991. Most interviews
were conducted by volunteers who are members of the Bar of the District of Columbia.
Copies of the transcripts of these interviews, a copy of the transcript on 3.5″ diskette (in
WordPerfect format), and additional documents as available – some of which may have
been prepared in conjunction with the oral history – are housed in the Judges’ Library in
the United States Courthouse, 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Inquiries may be made of the Circuit Librarian as to whether the transcript and diskette
are available at other locations.
Such original audio tapes of the interviews as exist as well as the original 3.5″ diskettes of
the transcripts are in the custody of the Circuit Executive of the U. S. Courts for the
District of Columbia Circuit.
– i –

– vii –
John H. Pratt
Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Courthouse
Third and Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001
Nominated for appointment April 11, 1968 by President Johnson (D).
Born November 17, 1910, in Portsmouth, NH to Harold B. and Marguerite R. Pratt.
Married Oct. 25, 1938, to BerniceSafford.
Children: Clare W., Lucinda Pearlman, John Helm, Jr., Patricia Moriarty, and Mary W.
Education: Georgetown University, 1926-28
Harvard College, 1928-30, A.B. (cum laude)
Harvard Law School, 1931-34, LL.B.
Admitted to DC Bar, Maryland Bar, 1950
Military Service: Entered active duty, U.S. Marine Corps in 1942; released as CPT in 1946
after WWII service; Bronze Star, Purple Heart, two (2) Presidential Unit
Citations.
Career Record: 1934-42, associate, Morris, KixMiller & Baar, Washington, DC
1946-68, partner, Morris, Pearce, Gardner & Pratt, Washington, DC
Member: Harvard Law School Association, president, 1952-53
DC Bar Association, president, 1963-64
American Bar Association, House of Delegates, 1963-64
American Bar Foundation, 1965
Legal Aid Agency, now Public Defenders Service, Washington, DC,
chairman, trustee, l 967-68
J.A.G. Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, 1960-68
American Judicature Society
Judicial Conference of the U.S., Committee on Judicial Ethics, chairman,
1984-90
– viii –
RESUME OF JACOB A. STEIN
Jacob A. Stein. Partner, Stein, Mitchell & Mezines. General
trial practice commencing in 1948.
Education and Honorary Degrees
LL.B. George Washington University, 1948
Honorary degree, Suffolk University School of Law, LL.D.
Delivered address to graduating class 1984; Honorary degree, George
Washington University, LL.D. Delivered graduation address to the
School of Arts & Sciences 1987
Admitted to Practice
All courts in the District of Columbia and Maryland; 4th
Circuit; and pro hac vice admissions in numerous circuit courts of
appeal.
Teaching
Visiting instructor, Trial Practice, Harvard Law School 1974-
1991. Adjunct professor, Evidence, Georgetown University Law
School; Adjunct Professor, Legal Ethics, American University Law
School; Adjunct Professor, George Washington University Law School,
Products Liability.
Continuing Legal Education
Participant as instructor in over 75 Trial Practice seminars
for the ABA, the D.C. Bar, the Maryland Bar, the American Trial
Lawyers Association, State Bar Associations, the Federal Bar
Association, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Inns of Court,
Judicial Conference proceedings and College for Newly Appointed
Federal Judges, and privately funded seminars specializing in trial
practice, evidence.
Scholarly
Senior Editor, Litigation. The Publication of the American
Bar Association Litigation Section
Member Advisory Board, Inside Litigation
Personal Injury Damages, Two Volumes, Second Edition 1991
Clark Boardman Callaghan
Closing Argument, The Art and The Law
Clark Boardman Callaghan
– ix –
Maryland Trial Handbook
Clark Boardman Callaghan
District of Columbia Tort Casefinder 3d Ed. A summary of all
D.C. tort cases.
Associate Editor
Maryland Civil Jury Instructions
District of Columbia Trial Handbook published by Clark
Boardman Callaghan, 1994.
The Law of Law Firms, 1994 – Clark Boardman Callaghan
Numerous articles in Trial Practice, Personal Injury Damages,
Evidence, Civil and Criminal Trial Practice. Articles have
appeared in the ABA Journal, Litigation, ATLA, Matthew Bender
publications, National Law Journal, Legal Times, D.C. Bar Journal,
Washington Lawyer.
Professional Activities
President, D.C. Bar Association 1967-68
President, D.C. Bar 1984-85
Lawyer of Year Award, D.C. Bar Association 1981
Chairman, Bar Admissions and Bar Examining Committee, D.C. Bar
1972-1978
Ethics Committee, United States Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit 1970-1974
Ethics Committee, D.C. Bar
American College of Trial Lawyers
Board of Governors, American Trial Lawyers Association 1959-
1961
Chairman, Rules Committee of the United States District Court
for the District of Columbia 1973-1987
Independent Counsel Appointment
Appointed April 2, 1984 as Independent Counsel in the matter of
Edwin Meese, III, by the special division of U.S. Court of Appeals.
Report filed on September 20, 1984.

– A1 –
Index
Acheson, Dean, 24
Ailes, Steve, 33
Allen, Florence, 10
American Bar Association, 45
Judicial Selection Committee, 33
Anecdotes:
About judges:
Bazelon, David L., 34, 36
Boudin, Michael, 30-31
Frankfurter, Justice, 26-27
Friendly, Henry, 31-32
Gasch, Oliver, 48-49
Hughes, Chief Justice, 26-27
Keech, Richmond B., 37-38
Kronheim, Milton, Jr., 32
Robb, Roger, 60-61
Stewart, Justice, 21-22
Taft, Chief Justice, 27
Tamm, Edward Allen, 51-52
About lawyers:
Boudin, Leonard, 29-30
Connolly, Paul, 53-54
Fanelli, Joe, 28-29
O’Brian, John Lord, 25-26
Wallace, Mike, 48-49
Walsh, Lawrence, 44-45
Archbishop of Chicago, 52
Arnold & Porter, 59
Ash, Bob, 33
Atlas Powder Company, 21
see also White Bread/FDA case
Bazelon, David L., 34, 36
Beitel, Albert, 9
Berle, Adolph, 51
Biak, Dutch New Guinea, 17-18
– A2 –
Blick, Inspector, 36
Boston Latin School, 3-5
Famous alumni, 3
Boudin, Leonard, 29-30, 43
Boudin, Michael, 30-31
Boyle, Tony, 53
Broderick v. Ruder, 685 F.Supp. 1269 (D.D.C. 1988), 58-59
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, 9-10
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, 9-10
Browder, Mr., 62
Brown, Ed, 58
Bureau of Standards, 2
Canada, 45
Christopher, Warren, 33
Clark, Grenville, 26
Clark, Ramsey, 34
Committee on Financial Disclosure, 50-51
Committee on Judicial Ethics, 50-51
Conant (President of Harvard University), 25-26
Connolly, Paul, 53-54
Corcoran, Mr., 33
Court martial, 46-47, 52-54
see also Schwable cases
Covington & Burling, 24-25, 30
Cox, Hugh, 31
Cox, Mr., 34
Cross, John, 20
Darrow, Clarence, 62-63
Davis, Kenneth, 6
Davis, Polk, 43-44, 45
Davis on Administrative Law, 6
DeFrantz v. United States Olympic Committee, 492 F.Supp. 1181 (D.D.C. 1980), 54
Demuth, Dick, 6
District of Columbia:
Reminiscences of, 2
Riots of 1968, 33
District of Columbia Bar Association, leaders of, 7-8, 40
District of Columbia Court of Appeals:
Rover, Leo, 23
Donoghue, Jiggs, 40-41
Donovan, “Wild Bill,” 22
Eastland, Jim, 40
Eddy, Nelson, 61
Ehrlichman, Mr., 41
– A3 –
Eisenhower, President, 45
Emerson Institute, 4
Evans, Rowland, 12
Ewing, Mr., 34
Exnicious, Marshall, 12
Exxon, 43
Exxon-Reliance Electric/FTC case, 43-44
Fanelli, Joe, 28-29
Hoffa case, 29
Federal Trade Commission, 43
see also Exxon-Reliance Electric/FTC case
Fegan, David, 20
Food and Drug Administration, 20-21, 34-35
see also White Bread/FDA case
Ford, Charlie, 38
Fortas, Justice, 29, 40
Frankfurter, Justice, 26-27
Franklin, Benjamin, 3
Friedman, Paul L., 39-40
Friendly, Henry, 31
Gasch, Oliver, 10-11, 33, 34, 36, 40, 48-49
Geneva Convention, 46
see also Schwable cases
Georgetown College, 5-6
Gesell, Gerhard R., 24, 30, 31, 56-57
Gibson, Jimmy, 12
Gichner, Henry, 36
Gichner, Larry, 35-36
Gillespie, Mr., 43-44
Goldolphin, Francis, 15, 19
Goltz, Jeffrey, 48
Gonzaga High School, 4-5
Haiti, 5-6
Haldeman, Mr., 41
Hale, Edward Everett, 3
Halsey, Admiral, 16
Hammond, John Hayes, 27
Harris, Stanley S., 42
Hart, George L., Jr., 55-56
– A4 –
Harvard University:
Board of Overseers, 4
Harvard College, 3, 5-6
Harvard Divinity School, 25-26
Harvard Law School, 6-7
Harvard medical unit, 17-18
Harvard School of Education, 25
Hastle, Bill, 35
Herrick, Chico, 23-24
Herrick, Phil, 11, 23, 40
Hiss, Alger, 51
Hoffa, Jimmy, 29
Hoffa case (in Supreme Court), 29
Hoffa v. Saxbe, 378 F.Supp. 1221 (D.D.C. 1974), 29-30
Hogan, Frank, 8
Hogan, Thomas F., 47
Holmes, John, 21
Holtzoff, Alexander, 36-38, 53
Hoover, Herbert, 27
Hoover, J. Edgar, 51-52
Hopkins, Steven, 1
Horskey, Charlie, 6, 28
Hruska, Senator, 40
Huff, Neil, 21
Hughes, Chief Justice, 25-27
Hughes, Colonel, 8
Hurley, Dan, 39-40
Indianapolis, 14
Indianapolis utility cases, 14-15
Interstate Commerce Commission, 9-10
see also Railroad Brotherhood case
Jacobs, Granville, 35
Janney, Stuart, 19
“Jewish seat,” the, 36
Johnson, Lyndon, 33-34
Jones, Day, 43-44
Justice Department, U.S., 45
Kaiser, Henry, 10
Keech, Richmond B., 37-38
Kennedy, Joe, 3
Kennedy, President, 30, 32, 44
King, Martin Luther, 33
Korean War, 46
Kronheim, Milton, Jr., 31-32, 52
– A5 –
Kruez, Admiral, 18
Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 15
Lamberth, Royce C., 48
Landis, Jim, 10
Laughlin, Mr., 38
Lawyer’s Club, 14
Leahy, William, 8-9
Levenson, Irv, 35
Lewis, John L., 11
Leyte Island, 16
Lombard, Judge, 22
Lynch, Hugh, 5, 13
Lynch, Hugh, III, 13
Lynham, Charlie, 14
Lynham, John, 14
Lyons, Ted, 15
MacChesney, Brunson, 10
MacKinnon, George E., 43-44, 45
Mafia, 51
Mann, Jimmy, 11
Markey, Howard, 45
Marshall Islands, 15
Massachusetts, 1
Massie case, 62-63
Mayflower, The, 1
McAloney, Holt, 19
McCartan, Patrick, 43-44
McGuire, Matthew F., 37
Medical expert witness case, 48
Merion Cricket Club, 12
Military widow case, 42
Miller, Captain, 18-19
Mine Workers Journal, 53
Minton, Sherman, 43
Minzenty, Cardinal, 47
Mitchell, John, 41
Morris, George, 7, 9-10
Mundelein, Cardinal, 52
Mundy, Ken, 57-58
Murphy, Jimmy, 20
– A6 –
Naval Hospitals:
Bethesda, Maryland, 18-19
Mare Island, California, 18
Oakland, California, 18
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18
Nevers, Ernie, 15
Newmeyer, Alvin, Sr., 51-52
Newsweek, 52-54
Nixon, President, 41
Noel, Regis, 7-8
Oberdorfer, Louis F., 35
O’Brian, John Lord, 24-26
Olson (pilot), 17
Olympic Games
see DeFrantz v. United States Olympic Committee, 492 F.Supp. 1181 (D.D.C. 1980)
Pace, Frank, 12
Pennypacker, Mr., 5
Pine, David A., 23
Powell, John, 40
Pratt, John H.:
Early life:
birthday, 27
family history, 1-3, 5
military family, 1-3
siblings, 2-3, 63
Education:
elementary education:
parochial school, 2-3
Boston Latin School, 3-4
alumni, 3-4
Georgetown College, 5-6
Harvard College, 5-6
Harvard Law School, 6-7
classmates, 6-7
public speaking training, 35
secondary education:
Emerson Institute, 4
Gonzaga, 4-5
U.S. Senate page, 4
Judges, memorable:
Gesell, Gerhard R., 56-57
Hart, GeorgeL., Jr., 55-56
Keech, Richmond B., 37-38
Revercomb, George H., 57
– A7 –
Robb, Roger, 60-61
Sentelle, David B., 45
Judicial philosophies:
best job in the world, 59
discovery, abuse of, 50
expert witness credentials, 48
human nature, knowledge of, 50
judicial temperament, 49-50
jury system, 54-55
oral argument, value of, 41-42
pro se cases and lack of jurisdiction, 55-56
qualities of a good judge, 60
sentencing guidelines, 47
Lawyers:
Memorable:
Boudin, Leonard, 29-30, 43
Hogan, Frank, 8
Leahy, William, 8-9
McCartan, Patrick, 43
O’Brian, John Lord, 24-26
Wallace, Mike, 48-49
Rainmakers, 22-25
Legal career (prior to judgeship):
Indianapolis utility cases, 14-15
practice of law:
circa 1960’s, 34-35, 37
unpleasant aspects of, 39
Railroad Brotherhood case, 9-10
Schwable court martial, 46-47
Schwable libel case, 52-54
tax work, 7, 9
White Bread/FDA case, 20-21, 34-35
Personal life:
children, 58
father:
anecdote about, 62-63
death of, 61
Massie case, dispute with father about, 62-63
friendships, 10-11
squash, 5, 11-12
tennis, 12-14, 23-24
travel, 61
On U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia:
appointment to, 32-34, 38-39, 40
– A8 –
confirmation hearings, 40
“Jewish seat,” taking the, 36
opposition to appointment, 34
law clerks, 39-40, 58, 59-60
notable cases:
Broderick v. Ruder, 685 F.Supp. 1269 (D.D.C. 1988), 58, 59
DeFrantz v. United States Olympic Committee, 492 F.Supp. 1181 (D.D.C. 1980), 54
Exxon-Reliance Electric/FTC case, 43-44
Hoffa v. Saxbe, 378 F.Supp. 1221 (D.D.C. 1974), 29-30
medical expert witness case, 48
military widow case, 42
Yablonski v. United Mine Workers of America, 305 F.Supp. 868 (D.D.C. 1969), 53
pleasures of being on the bench, 39, 41
takes senior status, 30
temper, loss of, 48-49
U.S. Judicial Conference:
Committee on Financial Disclosure, 50-51
Committee on Judicial Ethics, chairman of, 50-51
women law clerks, 58, 59
U.S. Marine Corps service:
Aviation Volunteer Specialist, 15-17
friendships, 19
injured, 15-18
medical problems from injury, 18-19
Naval Hospitals:
Bethesda, Maryland, 18-19
Mare Island, California, 18
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18
retires from the service, 15, 18
Pratt, William Veazie, 2-3
Priest, Degory, 1
Procter & Gamble, 20-21
see also White Bread/FDA case
Pusey, Merlo, 25
Racquet Club, 11
Railroad Brotherhood case, 9-10
Rainmakers, 22-25
Rauh, Joe, 53
Reilly, Gerry, 3
Reisman, David, 6-7
– A9 –
Reliance Electric Company, 43
see also Exxon-Reliance Electric/FTC case
Revercomb, George H., 57
Rizzo, Frank, 51
Robb, Charles H., 60
Robb, Irene, 61
Robb, Lillian, 61
Robb, Roger, 39-40, 42, 60-61
Robinson, Aubrey E., Jr., 39-40
Robinson, Spottswood W., III, 31
Rogers, Ginger, 51
Roosevelt, (Franklin Delano), 52
Roosevelt, Theodore, 60
Root, Elihu, 25
Rover, Leo, 23
Rowe, Jim, 4, 32-34
Ruane, Mike, 29-30
Sachs, Sidney, 33, 36
Sanders, Barefoot, 33-34
Schwable, Frank, 46-47, 52-54
Schwable court martial, 46-47
Schwable libel case, 52-54
Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S., 10, 58
see also Broderick v. Ruder, 685 F.Supp. 1269 (D.D.C. 1988)
Sentelle, David B., 45
Sentencing Guidelines, 47
Sexual harassment case (Broderick v. Ruder, 685 F.Supp. 1269 (D.D.C. 1988)), 58-59
Shaw, Dave, 10
Shortening Institute, 20-21
see also White Bread/FDA case
Sirica, John J., 32
Smith, Dr., 48
Smith, Pat, 14-15
Smith, Roy, 56
“Spear carriers,” 43
Sporkin, Stanley, 48
Stewart, Eugene, 60
Stewart, Justice, 21-22
Stimson, Henry, 25
Sullivan, Pat, 54
Sumner, Charles, 3
– A10 –
Supreme Court, U.S.:
Hoffa case, 29
Justices:
Fortas, 29, 40
Frankfurter, 26-27
Hughes, 25-27
Stewart, 21-22
Taft, 27, 59
Swift & Co., 20-21
see also White Bread/FDA case
Tacloban, Leyte Island, 16
Taft, Chief Justice, 27, 59
Taft-Hartley Act (Labor-Management Relations Act, June 23, 1947, c. 120, 61 Stat. 136), 10
Tamm, Edward Allen, 50-52, 59
Tatel, David S., 58
Temple, Larry, 33-34
Thompson, Will, 14-15
Truman, Harry, 32
United Mine Workers, 11, 53
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit:
Hastle, Bill, 35
White Bread/FDA case, 20-21, 34-35
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit:
Judges:
Allen, Florence, 10
Stewart, Potter, 21-22
Railroad Brotherhood case, 9-10
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit:
Judges:
Bazelon, David L., 34, 36
MacKinnon, George E., 43-44, 45
Robb, Charles H., 60
Robb, Roger, 39-40, 42, 60-61
Robinson, Spottswood W., III, 31
Sentelle, David B., 45
Tamm, Edward Allen, 50-52, 59
Tatel, David S., 58
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia:
cases:
Broderick v. Ruder, 685 F.Supp. 1269 (D.D.C. 1988), 58-59
DeFrantz v. United States Olympic Committee, 492 F.Supp. 1181 (D.D.C. 1980), 54
Exxon-Reliance Electric/FTC case, 43-44
Hoffa v. Saxbe, 378 F.Supp. 1221 (D.D.C. 1974), 29-30
Medical expert witness case, 48
– A11 –
Military widow case, 42
Schwable libel case, 52-54
Yablonski v. United Mine Workers of America, 305 F.Supp. 868 (D.D.C. 1969), 53
Judges:
Boudin, Michael, 30-31
Friedman, Paul L., 39-40
Gasch, Oliver, 10-11, 33, 34, 36, 40, 48-49
Gesell, Gerhard R., 24, 30, 31, 56-57
Harris, Stanley S., 42
Hart, George L., Jr., 55-56
Hogan, Thomas F., 47
Holtzoff, Alexander, 36-38, 53
Keech, Richmond B., 37-38
Lamberth, Royce C., 48
McGuire, Matthew F., 37
Oberdorfer, Louis F., 35
Pine, David A., 23
Revercomb, George H., 57
Robinson, Aubrey E., Jr., 39-40
Robinson, Spottswood W., III, 31
Sirica, John J., 32
Sporkin, Stanley, 48
Tamm, Edward Allen, 50-52, 59
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida:
Hurley, Dan, 39-40
U.S. Judicial Conference:
Committee on Financial Disclosure, 50-51
Committee on Judicial Ethics, 50-51
University Club, 11-12
“Unwritten law,” 63
Van Arkel, Gary, 10
Venable, Baetjer, 19
Vietnam War, 40
Waldrop, Frank, 52
Wallace, Mike, 48-49
Walsh, Lawrence, 43-45
Washington Daily News, 28
Washington Evening Star, 27
Watergate, 41
Watson, Joe, 17
Weiner, Fritz, 27, 28
Wheeldon, Tom, 18-19
White, Theodore, 3-4
White Bread/FDA case, 20-21, 34-35
– A12 –
White House, 33-34, 40
Williams, Ed, 52-54
Wilmer, Cutler, 34-35
Winchell, Walter, 51
Yablonski, Joe, 53
Yablonski v. United Mine Workers of America, 305 F.Supp. 868 (D.D.C. 1969), 53