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Friday, February 10, 2017

The Hon.George N. Leighton, Pioneering Federal Judge and Chess Player From New England


Here's an interesting story about a US chess player who had a varied chess and professional career. The Hon. George N. Leighton is an African-American from New Bedford, MA and listed as an active US Chess member until 2011. He played his last tournament in 2002. Leighton was appointed to the Federal bench by Gerald Ford and is presently alive at age 104 living in a VA home in Boston.
Here's an interesting article about him. He presided over a terrorism trial involving Puerto Rican separatists who threatened to kill him, most likely while he was playing chess at the North Avenue Beach chess pavilion Chicago. 
One of his games can be found here:

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