Edward Matthew Curran

Official portrait of Judge Curran

Edward Matthew Curran (May 10, 1903 – January 10, 1988) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Bangor, Maine, Curran received an LL.B. from Catholic University of America School of Law in 1927 and an A.B. from the University of Maine in 1928. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1928 to 1934, and was an assistant corporation counsel for the District of Columbia from 1934 to 1936. He was a judge on the District of Columbia Police Court from 1936 to 1940, and then served as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1940 to 1946.

On October 16, 1946, Curran received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated by Daniel W. O'Donoghue. Formally nominated on January 8, 1947, Curran was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 1947, and received his commission on February 5, 1947. He served as chief judge from 1966 to 1971, assuming senior status on April 2, 1971. Curran served in that capacity until his death.

Curran presided over the trial of Mildred Gillars (aka Axis Sally) for treason in 1949. Gillars was coincidentally also born in Maine (Portland).

Sources

• Edward Matthew Curran at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.