Harry Claiborne, 86; Impeached as U.S. Judge After Fraud Conviction
Harry Claiborne, a federal judge in Nevada who was impeached after his conviction for filing false tax returns, has died. He was 86.
Claiborne, who was the first federal judge to be sent to prison, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday night at his Las Vegas home, the Clark County coroner’s office said Tuesday. He had cancer and had been in failing health.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Feb. 26, 2004 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday February 26, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 68 words Type of Material: Correction
Claiborne obituary -- The obituary of Nevada attorney Harry Claiborne in the Jan. 21 California section incorrectly reported that Claiborne, convicted in 1984 for filing false tax returns, was the first federal judge to be sent to prison. Claiborne was the first sitting judge to be imprisoned. In 1939, Martin T. Manton resigned from a federal appeals court in New York before serving a prison term for bribery.
Before his appointment to the bench, Claiborne was considered one of Nevada’s top defense lawyers, representing many prominent people with ties to Las Vegas.
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin hired him for casino licensing matters. Judy Garland and one of Errol Flynn’s wives came to him for divorces. He also represented mobster Bugsy Siegel.
Claiborne was one of only seven federal officials in U.S. history to be removed from office through impeachment, Senate historical office records show.
He failed to report more than $107,000 on his 1979 and 1980 federal income tax returns -- money he earned as a lawyer before his appointment by President Carter in 1978.
Claiborne was convicted in 1984 of tax evasion and removed from the bench by the Senate in 1986. He was the first federal judge to be sent to prison, serving 17 months of a two-year sentence. He was also fined $10,000.
Claiborne always claimed that the federal government had a vendetta against him.
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that Claiborne could practice law in the state.
Born in McRae, Ark., Claiborne served in the Army Air Forces at a base in Nevada during World War II.
After the war, he worked briefly as a Las Vegas police officer before passing the bar. He later served as deputy district attorney for Clark County.
Details on survivors and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
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