FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Allen Sharp, a U.S. District judge appointed by President Nixon in 1973 and who served as chief judge from 1981 to 1996, died Friday. He was 77.

The federal district court for northern Indiana said that Sharp died at his home.

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.