Bernard J. Leddy

Bernard Joseph Leddy
"Young Democrats to Hold Convention in St. Albans". Burlington Free Press (Burlington, VT), August 23, 1940.
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
In office 1966–1972
Nominated by	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Albert Wheeler Coffrin
Personal details
Born	(1910-03-18)March 18, 1910 Underhill, Vermont, U.S.
Died	January 9, 1972(1972-01-09) (aged 61) Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Cause of death	Heart attack
Resting place	Resurrection Park Cemetery, South Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Alma mater	Boston College Law School

Bernard Joseph Leddy (March 18, 1910 – January 9, 1972) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Underhill, Vermont, Leddy received his A.B. from St. Michael's College in 1931, and an LL.B. from Boston College Law School in 1934. He was an Alderman of the City of Burlington from 1935 to 1940. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont from 1940 to 1954.

He was the 1958 Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont. At a time when Vermont was overwhelmingly Republican, Leddy lost to Robert Stafford by only 719 votes (50.3% to 49.7%). Leddy's strong showing in the governor's race, coupled with the win of Democrat William H. Meyer in the election for Vermont's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, was an indicator that the state's Democrats were growing in strength after more than 100 years of Republican dominance in statewide elections.

Leddy was a civilian aide for the U.S. Secretary of the Army from 1962 to 1966.

On August 16, 1966, Leddy was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 25, 1966, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1969 until his death on January 9, 1972. Leddy died at his Burlington home after suffering a heart attack, and is buried at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.

His son James P. Leddy was a member of the Vermont State Senate. His daughter Johannah Leddy Donovan has served in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2001. His grandson T. J. Donovan was the State's Attorney for Chittenden County prior to winning election as Vermont Attorney General in 2016.

A park in Burlington is named in his honor.

Sources

• Bernard Joseph Leddy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Bernard J. Leddy at Find a Grave