Donald Lay, 80; head of appeals court backed civil rights
Donald Lay, 80, a former chief judge of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals who supported individual rights in a broad range of cases involving abortion, the death penalty, American Indian law, free speech and women’s rights, died Sunday at his home in North Oaks, Minn. No cause of death was given by the court.
Lay served on the 8th Circuit, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and North and South Dakota, from 1966 to 2006.
He was its chief jurist from 1980 to 1992.
“As a judge, he has been doggedly devoted to the pursuit of equal justice for everyone in this country, and in his opinions for the court, has extended civil rights to all citizens regardless of race, sex or religion,” said Senior Judge Myron Bright of the 8th Circuit, the Omaha World-Herald reported.
Born in Princeton, Ill., Lay attended the U.S. Naval Academy, but a back injury while playing football ended his chance for a military career.
He earned bachelor’s and law degrees at the University of Iowa.
He practiced law in Omaha and Milwaukee before his appointment to the federal bench in 1966.
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