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Judicial Appointments - Supreme Court
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4520609
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Judicial Appointments - Supreme Court
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Philip W. Buchen Files
Philip Buchen's General Subject Files
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Supreme Court of the United States. (02/02/1790 - )
Presidential appointments
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The original documents are located in Box 21, folder "Judicial Appointments - Supreme
Court" of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 21 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
Cangelo telli
WASHINGTON
January 9, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
PETER MCPHERSON
FROM:
PHILIP BUCHEN
T.
Attached is a letter addressed to Charlie Leppert,
which deals with filling the vacancy on the Tax
Court. Mr. Leppert, as you will see, has acknowledged
receipt of the letter.
I assume you will pass on this information to the
screening committee which involves the Treasury
Department.
Attachment
GERALD FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 5, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
PHILIP BUCHEN
THRU:
MAX L. FRIEDERSDORF
RKW
VERN LOEN VL
FROM:
CHARLES LEPPERT, JR.
Cily
SUBJECT:
U. S. Tax Court Vacancy
Attached is the resume of Angelo I. Castelli and a letter from the
Prince Georges County Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America
recommending Mr. Castelli for the position of Judge of the United
States Tax Court.
Note that the letter of recommendation states that Senator J. Glenn
Beall (R-Md.) will recommend Mr. Castelli for the judgeship.
Attachment
GENALE FORD
January 5, 1976
Dear Frank:
Thank you so much for your recent letter in
behalf of Angelo L Castelli -- and the
Italian-Americans.
I appreciate your personal views regarding
appointments to the United States Tax Court
and have sent your letter and Mr. Castelli's
resume to Philip Buchen, Counsel to the
President. I am certain that Mr. Castelli
will be given very careful consideration for
the position, Frank, and as soon as I have
any news I will contact you.
Sincerely,
Charles Leppert, Jr.
Special Assistant
for Legislative Affairs
Mr. Frank Guaragaa
10416 Cleary Lane
Mitchellville, Maryland 20716
bcc: Philip Buchen w/incoming (Memo also sent to Buchen)
CL:nb
FORD is LIBRARY
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY LODGE
SONS
Number 2228
ORDER
OF
ITALY
Prince Georges
O.S.I.A.
Frank Guaragna
County, Maryland
NI.
10416 Cleary Lane
AMERICA
Mitchellville, Md. 2071
Venerable
December 23, 1975
Frank A. Guaragna
Ass't Venerable
Angelo Castelli
Orator
Lawrence Marzetti, Jr.
Mr. Charles Leppert, Jr.
Recording Secretary
Michael A. lacona, Sr.
Legislative Affairs Office
Corresponding Secretary
White House
Nina Scali
Washington, D. C. 20500
Treasurer
Daniel Quagliarello
Financial Secretary
Francis Andruzzi
Dear Mr Charlin Leppert:
Guard
Dominic LaRosa
I am writing in reference to a very good friend of mine,
Mistresses of Ceremony
Mr. Angelo I. Castelli, Assistant Venerable of the Prince
Libby Rizzo
Florette Scalzo
George's County Lodge #2228 Order Sons of Italy. I have
Trustees
known Angelo for the past five years. He is presently
Lola LoBianco
employed as a special assistant to the Deputy for Refund
Frances Manzella
Frank Taranto
Litigation, United States Department of Justice Tax Division,
James Scala
Washington, D. C. 20530, and has previously worked as trial
Joseph Vitale
attorney, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel.
Ex Venerable
His resume is attached.
Ronald Russo
Past-Venerables
Gerard F. Vricella
Recently, Judge Bruce M. Forrester of the United States
Martin Aragona
Tax Court, Washington, D. C., retired, effective January 1,
1976. This creates a vacancy on the Tax Court which is
composed of 16 judges. With Judge Forrester's retirement,
there are now only 15 judges on the Tax Court.
As you know, the United States Tax Court was created by
the Revenue Act of 1924 and was then known as the Board of
Tax Appeals until 1942, when it was re-named the Tax Court
of the United States by the Revenue Act of 1942. The Board
of Tax Appeals originally replaced an appeals committee
which consisted of employees of the Internal Revenue Service.
Although the Tax Court was formerly an independent agency in
the Executive Branch of the Government, the 1942 Act provided
that it should be known as the Tax Court of the United States
and that its members should be known as judges. During the
80th Congress, Second Session, the House Committee on the
Judiciary pronounced the Tax Court to be a court in fact, as
well as, in name. This action resulted from the requirements
imposed by the Constitution.
The Tax Court adjudicates controversies between taxpayers
and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue arising out of a
deficiency in tax determined by that officer. With certain
Mr. Charles Leppert, Jr.
Page - 2 -
December 23, 1975
exceptions, the Tax Court exercises jurisdiction over all phases of
federal taxes imposed upon businesses and the American people. The
Tax Court, which is unique in our judicial system, was created pri-
marily to afford a taxpayer an opportunity to be heard before being
compelled to pay an income, gift or estate tax.
Since the inception of the Court in 1924, over 51 years ago, there
has never been an Italian-American appointed as a Tax Court Judge.
I am sure you will agree that 51 years is a considerable length of
time. I believe that the Italian-American community should do some-
thing about this. A concerted effort should be made by all of the
Italian-American groups, in an all out attempt to have an Italian-
American appointed to the Tax Court. We should act with all haste
in our attempt to rectify an obvious 51-year slur on the Italian-
American community. Surely, there must be many amoung us who have
the qualifications to be appointed to the Tax Court.
In this regard and with due reference to all Italian-Americans, I
respectfully submit that Angelo has the qualifications for such an
appointment.
He has extensive trial experience in the tax field, both with regard
to criminal and civil litigation. He has prosecuted tax evaders and
defended refund suits brought against the United States. Thus, he has
had over nine years of extensive experience in the tax field. I believe
that this qualifies him for the current vacancy which exists on the
Tax Court.
As far as I can determine, the appointment is made by the President of
the United States and must be approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
Russell B. Long of Louisiana is chairman of that Committee. Any
assistance you can afford in placing Mr. Castelli into this most
important position would be greatly appreciated by your fellow
Italian-Americans. Please contact Senator J. Glenn Beall, Jr. who
has elected to sponsor Mr. Castelli, and recommend him to the
President.
Sincerely,
Frank A. Guaragna
Venerable
Enclosure
Mew
Copy to:
Frank A. Battaglia
Harps
your
S. J. Avara
E. J. Angeletti
Frank Cicone
Frank J. Valle
Mr. Charles Leppert, Jr.
Page - 3 -
December 23, 1975
Paul Interdonato
Angelo Castelli
Joseph Vaghi
Antonio Marinelli
Joseph Messina
Pina Cicala
Frank J. Guarino
Jean Jadot
Winnie Kelly
Charles Leppert
Nicholas Nunzio
Roberto Gaja
George Perna
Edward D. Re
Joseph Preiti
Il Progresso
Mary C. Sansone
William W. Baum
Michael Bongiovanni
Louise Gore
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Vricella
Maria Wilmuth
Louis J. Figliozzi
Frank Caruso
Caesar Donanzan
Aldo Petrini
Ronald A. Russo
Angelo Penque
RESUME OF ANGELO I. CASTELLI
of Birth:
October 28, 1933
ace of Birth:
Cranston, Rhode Island
Profession:
Attorney
Marital Status:
Married
Residence:
7908 Esther Drive
Oxon Hill, Maryland 20021
Telephone:
Office:
(202) 739-2908
Residence: (301) 839-5669
Present Position:
Special Assistant to the Deputy for
Refund Litigation, United States
Department of Justice, Tax Division,
Washington, D.C. 20530
Responsibility:
As the Special Assistant, I assist
the Deputy for Refund Litigation, who
serves on the immediate staff of the
Assistant Attorney General, Tax
Division, and is responsible for the
operational management of three District
Court Sections and the Court of Claims
Section. My responsibilities include
reviewing offers in compromise in major
cases, coordinating the handling of
prime issues, liaison with the Office
of the Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue
Service, and the preparation of special
reports and research in matters of great
importance.
R.
FORD
GERALD
LIBRARY
on 2 -
Prior
Responsibilities: August, 1969-August, 1974, trial
attorney in Refund Trial Section
No. 1.
As a civil trial attorney,
I had the responsibility for the
complete preparation and trial of
civil tax suits, both those tried
to a court and a jury, throughout
the Northeastern part of the United
States. Also, I have had extensive
experience in the preparation and
prosecution of criminal tax fraud
cases.
Prior
Employment:
August, 1966-August, 1969, trial
attorney, Internal Revenue Service,
Office of Chief Counsel, Refund
Litigation Division, Washington,
D.C. 20224
June, 1961-August, 1966, supervisory
accountant, United States General
Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.
Legal Education:
Catholic University, Columbus School
of Law. J.D. 1965
Class Standing: Upper One-Third
Prelegal
Education:
University of Rhode Island, Kingston,
Rhode Island.
B.S. with Honors - Majored in Accounting
FORD is GERALO LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 5, 1976
Dear Charlie:
Thank you very much for sending me a
copy of the letter which you addressed
to Douglas Bennett concerning
Mr. Lapsley W. Hamblen, Jr. and his
qualifications to be considered for
a position on the United States Tax
Court.
I will do whatever I can to see that
this recommendation is given full
consideration.
I miss seeing you as frequently as in
the past and hope that our visits to
the University Club will coincide more
frequently.
Best personal regards.
Sincerely,
Thil
Philip W. Buchen
Counsel to the President
Mr. Charles J. Mott
Brightberry
Buck Mountain Road
Crozet, Virginia 22932
Charles J. Mott
Brightberry
Buck Mountain Road
Crozet, Va. 22932
10 February 1976
Mr. Douglas Bennett
Director, Presidential Personnel Office
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Bennett:
I wish to take this opportunity to recommend to you
Mr. Lapsley W. Hamblen, Jr., of Lynchburg, Virginia,
for the position of United States Tax Court Judge.
I understand that his name has been submitted for
consideration.
It has been my pleasure to have known Lapsley Hamblen
for almost thirty years when we were both students
at the University of Virginia. He is a man of highest
integrity with a personal character and conduct beyond
reproach. His pleasantly engaging personality com-
bined with his talent and experience in tax law would
appear to make him an excellent choice as a judge on
the United States Tax Court. Certainly his presence on
the Court would add a great deal of talent, character
and dignity to that high and responsible post.
Yes, without reservation, it is my pleasure and privi-
ledge to recommend to you this fine American with the
sincere hope that you give him your careful consideration.
Sincerely,
Charles J. Mott
CC: John 0. Marsh, Jr.
Philip Buchen
FORD