Franklin P. Backus

Franklin P. Backus

Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia
In office July 1, 1949 – July 1, 1951
Preceded by	William T. Wilkins
Succeeded by	Marshall J. Beverley
Judge, Alexandria Circuit Court
In office 1952–1978
Personal details
Born	December 22, 1913 Washington, DC
Died	October 7, 2007 (aged 93) Alexandria, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	George Washington University

Franklin P. Backus (December 22, 1913 – October 7, 2007) was a long-time judge in and one-term mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. He is credited with helping to establish Virginia's statewide juvenile court system.^[1]

Early life

Backus was born in Washington, DC and moved to Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 7. He graduated from George Washington University in 1932 and received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1936.^[2] Backus had a small law practice and helped found the Alexandria Jaycees in 1940, serving as its first president.

Military and public service

He was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy and served in World War II. At the conclusion of the war, Backus returned to Alexandria and resumed the practice of law. In 1949, he was elected Mayor of Alexandria as a Democrat and served one term. His tenure as mayor was notable for Alexandria's annexation of territory west of Quaker Lane from Fairfax County, Virginia.^[3] This was the last significant annexation by the City of Alexandria. At the conclusion of his term as Mayor, in 1952, Backus was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court for Alexandria.

Judicial service

Judge Backus had helped establish Virginia's juvenile court system^[4] and helped establish the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission in 1972, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct. He served as President of the Commission twice.

Backus retired as chief judge of the Alexandria Circuit Court in 1978. He continued to hear cases, traveling across the state until 1983.

Death and legacy

Backus died in Alexandria on October 7, 2007. The circuit courthouse in Alexandria is named in honor of Judge Backus.

References

Mayors of Alexandria, Virginia

Mayors 1780 - 1801 Before inclusion in the District of Columbia	Hooe Hendricks Herbert Keith Kirk Arell Fitzgerald Hunter Ramsay Mease Hunter Marsteller J. Taylor Ramsay Mease Dundas Thompson Peyton Dundas Peyton Alexander

Mayors 1846 - Present After retrocession to Virginia	Veitch Buckingham L. Taylor Muir Wise Massey Price McKenzie Ware Latham Berkley Latham Berkley Kemper Johnson Kemper Smith Beckham J. Smoot Downham Strauss Simpson Paff Fisher W. Smoot Jones Duncan Pierce E. Ticer Davison Ruffner Wilkins Backus Beverley Bendheim Mann Beatley Mann Beatley Moran P. Ticer Donley Euille Silberberg

Political offices
Preceded by William T. Wilkins	Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Virginia 1949–1951	Succeeded by Marshall J. Beverley

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