Edward Devitt

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Edward James Devitt (May 5, 1911 – March 2, 1992) was a United States Representative and United States District Judge from Minnesota.

Devitt was born in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota; graduated from St. John’s College Preparatory High School, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1930; attended St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1930 – 1932; LL.B., University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1935; B.S.C., University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1938; lawyer in private practice; professor; municipal judge, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, 1935 – 1939; assistant attorney general, Office of the Attorney General, State of Minnesota, 1939 – 1942; United States Navy, 1942 – 1946; elected as a Republican to the 80th congress (January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 81st congress in 1948.

Devitt was a probate judge in Ramsey County, Minnesota from 1950 – 1954. In 1954, he was appointed a United States district judge for the district of Minnesota. He served as chief judge from 1958 until 1981, when he took senior status. He died on March 2, 1992, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The American Judicature Society has awarded the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award each year since 1983 to an Article III judge. The first recipient was Albert Branson Maris.