on January 1, 1994. His service was terminated on January 1, 2002, due to his death. Failed nomination to the Second Circuit On August 26, 1980, President Jimmy Carter nominated Nickerson to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to replace Judge Murray Gurfein, who had died in 1979. However, given that the nomination occurred after the unofficial Thurmond Rule governing judicial nominations during presidential election years, the Senate never took up Nickerson's nomination. President Ronald Reagan chose instead to nominate Lawrence W. Pierce to the seat in September 1981. Pierce was confirmed by the United States Senate in November 1981. Death Nickerson died January 1, 2002, in New York City aged 83, following complications after stomach surgery. See also Jimmy Carter judicial appointment controversies List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Chief Justice) References External links New York Times Obituary Harvard University memorial page (archived) Eugene H. Nickerson papers, 1955–1970, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries 1918 births 2002 deaths Harvard University alumni Columbia Law School alumni Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States Law clerks of Harlan F. Stone Nassau County Executives New York (state) Democrats People from Orange, New Jersey St. Mark's School (Massachusetts) alumni United States district court judges appointed by Jimmy Carter 20th-century American judges