Julius C. Michaelson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Julius C. Michaelson

| order = 66th Attorney General of Rhode Island

| image =

| predecessor = Richard J. Israel

| successor = Dennis J. Roberts II

| governor =

| party = Democratic

| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|1|25}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|11|12|1922|1|25|mf=yes}}

| death_place =

| website =

| term_start =

| term_end =

| education = Boston University

}}

Julius Cooley Michaelson (January 25, 1922 – November 12, 2011) served as Rhode Island Attorney General from 1975 to 1979 and was the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee in 1982 against Republican John Chafee.(8 August 1982). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YkYyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5195,1496940&dq=julius+michaelson+senate&hl=en Rep. Kemp Calls Late To Check On 'ambush'], Lawrence Journal World{{Cite web |title=1982 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Official Count |url=https://elections.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur756/files/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1982-Count-Book.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223020345/http://www.elections.ri.gov/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1982%20Count%20Book.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2019 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=elections.ri.gov}}

Julius Cooley Michaelson was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Carl and Celia (née Cooley) Michaelson. During the Second World War, he entered the U.S. Army in 1943 as a Private and was released in 1946 as a First Lieutenant.{{Cite web |date=1943 |title=NARA - AAD (Enlistment Records) |url=https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=2&tf=F&q=11079950&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=416517&rlst=454847,416517 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=The National Archives (archives.gov)}} Michaelson earned his Juris Doctor from Boston University school of Law in 1947 and later received a Master's degree in Philosophy from Brown University in 1967.{{Cite web |title=H6328 - House Resolution |url=https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText11/HouseText11/H6328.pdf |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=webserver.rilin.state.ri.us}} His public service career began in 1957 as public counsel in public utility rate cases. In 1962, Michaelson was elected to the State Senate and served until 1974.{{Cite web |date=6 November 1962 |title=1962 Countbook |url=https://elections.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur756/files/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1962-Count-Book.pdf |access-date=16 July 2024}} He was the Deputy Majority Leader during the 1969 session.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 1974, he won the State Attorney General election with 53% of the vote against the incumbent Richard J. Israel.{{Cite web |date=5 November 1974 |title=1974 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Official Count |url=https://elections.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur756/files/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1974-Count-Book.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222023755/http://www.elections.state.ri.us:80/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1974%20Count%20Book.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2012}} Michaelson won his second term in the 1976 state Attorney-General election with over 71% of the vote against Republican candidate Marvin A. Brill.{{Cite web |date=7 November 1978 |title=1978 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |url=https://elections.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur756/files/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1978-Count-Book.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002215051/http://www.elections.state.ri.us:80/publications/Election_Publications/Countbooks/1978%20Count%20Book.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2018 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=elections.ri.gov}} In 1982 Michaelson challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Chafee, garnering 49% to Chafee's 51%.

In 2002, Michaelson was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame as a "champion for human, civil and labour rights".{{Cite web |date=16 July 2024 |title=Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson - Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame |url=https://riheritagehalloffame.com/Attorney-General-Julius-Michaelson/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930030854/https://riheritagehalloffame.com/Attorney-General-Julius-Michaelson/ |archive-date=30 September 2023 |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame}}

He died on November 12, 2011.{{cite news

| url = http://news.providencejournal.com/politics/2011/11/julius-michaelson-former-attorney-general-dead-at-89-1.html

| title = Julius Michaelson, former attorney general, dead at 89

| publisher = Providence Journal

| date = 2011-11-14

| accessdate = 2011-11-14

}} At the order of Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, son of former Senator John Chafee, state flags were flown at half-staff in his memory.{{cite news

| url = http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2011/11/chafee-orders-r.html

| title = Chafee orders RI flags to half staff in Michaelson's memory

| publisher = Providence Journal

| date = 2011-11-14

| accessdate = 2011-11-14

}}