Julius C. Michaelson

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]