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Biography
Francis C. Whelan (December 11, 1907 – August 22, 1991) was a United States federal judge.
Born in O'Neill, Nebraska, Whelan received a B.A. from San Diego State University in 1928 and both an LL.B and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in San Diego, California from 1932 to 1935. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of California from 1935 to 1939. He was a Special assistant to U.S. attorney general of U.S. Dept. of Justice from 1939 to 1948. He was in private practice in Los Angeles, California from 1948 to 1961. He was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1961 to 1964.
Whelan was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Whelan was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 17, 1964, to a seat vacated by Leon R. Yankwich. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 1964, and received his commission the same day. Whelan served in that capacity until September 18, 1966, due to assignment to another court.
Whelan was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He was reassigned on September 18, 1966; Assumed senior status on January 7, 1978. Whelan served in that capacity until his death, in Palm Desert, California.