Albert Vickers Bryan Jr.

{{about|Judge Albert Vickers Bryan Jr.|his father, also a federal judge|Albert Vickers Bryan}}

{{Infobox judge

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Albert Vickers Bryan Jr.

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| image = Albert_V_Bryan_Jr.png

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| office = Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

| term_start = December 1, 1991

| term_end = August 27, 2019

| office1 = Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

| term_start1 = 1985

| term_end1 = 1991

| predecessor1 = John Ashton MacKenzie

| successor1 = James C. Cacheris

| office2 = Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

| term_start2 = May 19, 1979

| term_end2 = May 18, 1986

| appointer2 = Warren Burger

| predecessor2 = seat established

| successor2 = Herbert Frazier Murray

| office3 = Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

| term_start3 = July 29, 1971

| term_end3 = December 1, 1991

| appointer3 = Richard Nixon

| predecessor3 = Seat established by 84 Stat. 294

| successor3 = Leonie Brinkema

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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|11|08}}

| birth_place = Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|08|27|1926|11|08}}

| death_place = Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.

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| education = University of Virginia School of Law (LLB)

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Albert Vickers Bryan Jr. (November 8, 1926 – August 27, 2019) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Education and career

Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Bryan's father Albert Vickers Bryan, was also a federal judge. The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse, in Alexandria, is named for his father.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/va-e/locations/index.html|title=U.S. Marshals Service|first=U.S. Marshals Service|last=(USMS)|website=www.usmarshals.gov}} The younger Bryan served in the United States Marine Corps reserve from 1944 to 1946, and then received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1950. He was in private practice of law in Alexandria from 1950 to 1962. He was a judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit of Virginia from 1962 to 1971.{{FJC Bio|296|nid=1378446|name=Albert Vickers Bryan Jr.}}

=Federal judicial service=

Bryan was nominated by President Richard Nixon on July 19, 1971, to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 29, 1971, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1985 until December 1, 1991, when he assumed senior status. His service terminated on August 27, 2019, due to his death of pneumonia in Alexandria.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/albert-v-bryan-jr-federal-judge-who-presided-over-rocket-docket-dies-at-92/2019/08/28/5efb0ad2-c9a0-11e9-be05-f76ac4ec618c_story.html|title=Albert V. Bryan Jr., federal judge who presided over 'rocket docket,' dies at 92|newspaper=Washington Post}}

In 1979, Bryan was selected by Chief Justice Warren Burger as one of the seven original members of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and he served on that court until 1986.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/vmi_alumni_agencies/docs/2020-1_web|title=Albert V. Bryan Jr. '47|work=VMI Alumni Review|year=2020}}

=Rocket docket=

While serving as a federal judge, Bryan decided that justice was being dispensed too slowly for his liking, and as a result he ran a rocket docket.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3007-2004Oct2.html A Double Dose of Molasses in the Rocket Docket], Washington Post, October 3, 2004; Page C04