Martin Donald Van Oosterhout

Martin Donald Van Oosterhout (October 10, 1900 – January 28, 1979) was a legislator and state court judge in northwestern Iowa, and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Martin Donald Van Oosterhout
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office July 6, 1971 – January 28, 1979
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office 1968–1970
Preceded by	Charles Joseph Vogel
Succeeded by	Marion Charles Matthes
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office August 26, 1954 – July 6, 1971
Appointed by	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Seth Thomas
Succeeded by	Roy Laverne Stephenson
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 81st district
In office January 9, 1939 – January 10, 1943
Preceded by	Albert Beltman
Succeeded by	Anthony Te Paske
Personal details
Born	Martin Donald Van Oosterhout (1900-10-10)October 10, 1900 Orange City, Iowa
Died	January 28, 1979(1979-01-28) (aged 78)
Political party	Republican
Children	1
Parents	Peter (father) Sarah (mother)
Education	University of Iowa (BA) University of Iowa College of Law (JD)

Education and career

Born in Orange City, Iowa, Van Oosterhout received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1922, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1924. He was in private practice in Orange City from 1924 to 1933. In the last four of those years (from 1929 to 1933) he also served as a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives. He was a Judge of the 21st Judicial District of Iowa from 1933 to 1954.

Federal judicial service

On August 16, 1954, Van Oosterhout was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated when a fellow Iowan, Judge Seth Thomas, assumed senior status. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 20, 1954, and received his commission on August 26, 1954. He served as Chief Judge and member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1968 to 1970. He assumed senior status on July 6, 1971. He was a Judge of the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals from 1972 to 1977. He served in senior status until his death on January 28, 1979.

Personal life

Van Oosterhout's parents were Peter and Sarah. He was married to Ethel Greenway, with whom he had one son, Peter Denne.

Sources

• Martin Donald Van Oosterhout at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.