U.S. District Judge Allen Sharp, who was appointed by President Nixon in 1973 and served as chief judge from 1981 to 1996, has died. He was 77.

The federal district court for northern Indiana said in a statement Friday that Sharp died at his home.

Chief Judge Robert L. Miller Jr. said in the statement that Sharp was "a fine judge and a marvelous colleague" and "all of us at the court mourn his loss."

The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne says Sharp was involved in several key court cases, including the desegregation of Fort Wayne Community Schools elementary schools, the Joseph Corcoran murder case and a public Elkhart Ten Commandments display.

He served as a senior judge until his death.

Sharp is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren.