John Milton Bryan Simpson
lawyer · judge
- May 30, 1903 · Kissimmee
- August 22, 1987
- 84 years
About John Milton Bryan Simpson
John Milton Bryan Simpson, 84, American circuit judge.
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60 Seconds Life Story
John Milton Bryan Simpson was a dedicated American jurist whose career shaped the federal judiciary.
John Milton Bryan Simpson
1903 – 1987
60 Seconds: John Milton Bryan Simpson's Life Story
A documentary overview of the life and judicial career of American judge John Milton Bryan Simpson.
Transcript
John Milton Bryan Simpson was a dedicated American jurist whose career shaped the federal judiciary. Born in 1903 in Kissimmee, Florida, he began his professional journey practicing law in Jacksonville. During the Second World War, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in the European Theater. Following his service, he embarked on a lengthy career as a federal judge, serving on both district and circuit courts. He is widely remembered for ordering the desegregation of Duval County schools in 1962. Throughout his life, he transitioned through various judicial appointments, eventually assuming senior status in 1975. By the time of his passing in 1987 at the age of 84, his legacy was cemented in American legal history.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
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Full Biography
|John Milton Bryan Simpson (May 30, 1903 – August 22, 1987) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Education and career
Born in Kissimmee, Florida, Simpson served in the United States Army, as a 1st Lt., in the European Theater from 1943 to 1945. Received a Bachelor of Laws from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in 1926. He was in private practice of law in Jacksonville, Florida from 1926 to 1946. He was an assistant state's attorney of the Fourth Florida Circuit from 1933 to 1939. He was a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County, Florida from 1939 to 1943. He was a United States Army First Lieutenant from 1943 to 1945. He was a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County from 1945 to 1946. He was a Circuit Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida from 1946 to 1950.
Federal judicial service
Simpson was nominated by President Harry S Truman on September 14, 1950, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida vacated by Judge Louie Willard Strum. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 23, 1950, and received his commission on September 26, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1962. He was reassigned by operation of law on October 29, 1962 to the newly created United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, to a seat established by 76 Stat. 247. He served as Chief Judge from 1962 to 1966. His service was terminated on November 22, 1966, due to elevation to the Fifth Circuit.
Simpson was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 11, 1966, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966, and received his commission on November 3, 1966. He assumed senior status on June 30, 1975. He was reassigned by operation of law on October 1, 1981, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His service was terminated on August 22, 1987, due to his death.
Brown v. Board of Education
Judge Simpson was noted for desegregating schools in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1962 he ordered the Duval County Public Schools to develop a plan to remove separate school zones based on race.
Honor
The John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville in named in his honor.[citation needed]
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton_Bryan_Simpson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 24, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from John Milton Bryan Simpson's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was John Milton Bryan Simpson born?
- A.Kissimmee, Floridacorrect
- B.Tallahassee, Florida
- C.Miami, Florida
- D.Jacksonville, Florida
The biography explicitly states that John Milton Bryan Simpson was born in Kissimmee, Florida.
Source: Education and career section
2.What law degree did John Milton Bryan Simpson earn from the University of Florida in 1926?
- A.Master of Laws
- B.Doctor of Juridical Science
- C.Juris Doctor
- D.Bachelor of Lawscorrect
John Milton Bryan Simpson received a Bachelor of Laws from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in 1926.
Source: Education and career section
3.In what military role did John Milton Bryan Simpson serve during World War II?
- A.Sergeant
- B.1st Lt.correct
- C.Captain
- D.Major
John Milton Bryan Simpson served in the United States Army as a 1st Lt. in the European Theater from 1943 to 1945.
Source: Education and career section
4.John Milton Bryan Simpson held which position from 1933 to 1939?
- A.District Judge
- B.Assistant state's attorneycorrect
- C.Chief Judge
- D.Circuit Judge
John Milton Bryan Simpson served as an assistant state's attorney of the Fourth Florida Circuit from 1933 to 1939.
Source: Education and career section
5.Which president nominated John Milton Bryan Simpson to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida?
- A.Harry S Trumancorrect
- B.Dwight D. Eisenhower
- C.John F. Kennedy
- D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
John Milton Bryan Simpson was nominated by President Harry S Truman on September 14, 1950.
Source: Federal judicial service section
6.In what year did John Milton Bryan Simpson serve as Chief Judge of the Southern District of Florida?
- A.1961-1962correct
- B.1960-1961
- C.1965-1966
- D.1955-1956
John Milton Bryan Simpson served as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida from 1961 to 1962.
Source: Federal judicial service section
7.On what date did John Milton Bryan Simpson die?
- A.June 30, 1975
- B.May 30, 1903
- C.November 22, 1966
- D.August 22, 1987correct
The biography records John Milton Bryan Simpson's death date as August 22, 1987.
Source: Biography introduction
8.When did John Milton Bryan Simpson assume senior status?
- A.October 1, 1981
- B.October 20, 1966
- C.June 30, 1975correct
- D.November 3, 1966
John Milton Bryan Simpson assumed senior status on June 30, 1975.
Source: Federal judicial service section
9.To which court was John Milton Bryan Simpson reassigned on October 1, 1981?
- A.Middle District of Florida
- B.Fifth Circuit
- C.Eleventh Circuitcorrect
- D.Southern District of Florida
John Milton Bryan Simpson was reassigned by operation of law on October 1, 1981, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Source: Federal judicial service section
10.What notable action did John Milton Bryan Simpson take regarding Duval County Public Schools in 1962?
- A.Standardized curriculum across the state
- B.Ordered the closing of all schools
- C.Ordered a plan to remove separate school zones based on racecorrect
- D.Mandated separate school zones
In 1962, John Milton Bryan Simpson ordered the Duval County Public Schools to develop a plan to remove separate school zones based on race.
Source: Brown v. Board of Education section
11.Where is the courthouse named in honor of John Milton Bryan Simpson located?
- A.Miami
- B.Jacksonvillecorrect
- C.Orlando
- D.Tallahassee
The John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse is located in Jacksonville.
Source: Honor section
12.Which president nominated John Milton Bryan Simpson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit?
- A.Lyndon B. Johnsoncorrect
- B.Dwight D. Eisenhower
- C.John F. Kennedy
- D.Richard Nixon
John Milton Bryan Simpson was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 11, 1966.
Source: Federal judicial service section
13.When did John Milton Bryan Simpson serve as a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County?
- A.1943-1945
- B.1933-1939
- C.1946-1950
- D.1939-1943correct
John Milton Bryan Simpson was a Judge of the Criminal Court of Record in Duval County, Florida from 1939 to 1943.
Source: Education and career section
14.What official legislation established the seat John Milton Bryan Simpson filled in the Middle District of Florida?
- A.1966 Reform Act
- B.80 Stat. 75
- C.1950 Act
- D.76 Stat. 247correct
John Milton Bryan Simpson was reassigned to a seat established by 76 Stat. 247.
Source: Federal judicial service section
15.John Milton Bryan Simpson was in private practice of law in Jacksonville during which period?
- A.1933-1939
- B.1926-1946correct
- C.1946-1950
- D.1939-1943
John Milton Bryan Simpson was in private practice of law in Jacksonville, Florida from 1926 to 1946.
Source: Education and career section
16.What was the date of John Milton Bryan Simpson's confirmation to the Fifth Circuit?
- A.October 11, 1966
- B.November 3, 1966
- C.October 20, 1966correct
- D.September 23, 1950
John Milton Bryan Simpson was confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966.
Source: Federal judicial service section
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