Julius C. Michaelson

Julius C. Michaelson
66th Attorney General of Rhode Island
Preceded byRichard J. Israel
Succeeded byDennis J. Roberts II
Personal details
Born(1922-01-25)January 25, 1922
DiedNovember 12, 2011(2011-11-12) (aged 89)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBoston University

Julius Cooley Michaelson (January 25, 1922 – November 12, 2011) served as Rhode Island Attorney General from 1975 to 1979 and was the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee in 1982 against Republican John Chafee.[1][2]

Julius Cooley Michaelson was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Carl and Celia (née Cooley) Michaelson. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943 as a Private and was released in 1946 as a First Lieutenant.[3] Michaelson earned his Juris Doctor from Boston University school of Law in 1947. In 1967 Julius Cooley received a Master's degree in Philosophy from Brown University.[4] His public service career began in 1957 as public counsel in public utility rate cases. In 1962, Michaelson was elected to the State Senate and served until 1974.[5] He was the Deputy Majority Leader during the 1969 session.[citation needed]

In 1974, he won the State Attorney General election with 53% of the vote against the incumbent Richard J. Israel.[6] Michaelson won his second term in the 1976 state Attorney-General election with over 71% of the vote against Republican candidate Marvin A. Brill.[7] In 1982 Michaelson challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Chafee, garnering 49% to Chafee's 51%.[2]

In 2002, Michaelson was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame as a "champion for human, civil and labour rights".[8]

He died on November 12, 2011.[9] At the order of Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, son of former Senator John Chafee, state flags were flown at half-staff in his memory.[10]

  1. ^ (8 August 1982). Rep. Kemp Calls Late To Check On 'ambush', Lawrence Journal World
  2. ^ a b "1982 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Official Count" (PDF). elections.ri.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ^ "NARA - AAD (Enlistment Records)". The National Archives (archives.gov). 1943. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  4. ^ "H6328 - House Resolution" (PDF). webserver.rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  5. ^ "1962 Countbook" (PDF). 6 November 1962. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. ^ "1974 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Official Count" (PDF). 5 November 1974. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2012.
  7. ^ "1978 Count Book - State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" (PDF). elections.ri.gov. 7 November 1978. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson - Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Julius Michaelson, former attorney general, dead at 89". Providence Journal. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  10. ^ "Chafee orders RI flags to half staff in Michaelson's memory". Providence Journal. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-14.