President Richard Nixon nominated Contie to the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on November 19, 1971, to the seat vacated by Judge
James C. Connell.
Confirmed by the
Senate on December 1, 1971, and received his commission on December 6, 1971. His service was terminated on March 23, 1982, due to elevation to the Sixth Circuit.
President Ronald Reagan nominated Contie to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on January 26, 1982, to the seat vacated by Judge
Anthony J. Celebrezze. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 4, 1982, and received his commission on March 9, 1982. He assumed
senior status on June 30, 1986, and remained on the court until his death on May 11, 2001, in
Cleveland, Ohio. ==References==