Edward Norton (judge) explained

Edward Norton
Office:Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
Term Start:January 2, 1862
Term End:January 2, 1864
Appointer:Direct election
Predecessor:Joseph G. Baldwin
Successor:Elections under 1862 amendment to California constitution and 1863 enabling law
Birth Date:29 October 1808
Birth Place:Canandaigua, New York, U.S.
Death Place:London, United Kingdom
Alma Mater:Union College (B.A.)

Edward Norton (October 29, 1808 – May 2, 1872) was an American lawyer and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from January 2, 1862, to January 2, 1864.

Biography

Born in Canandaigua, New York, Norton received a liberal arts education at Union College.[1] [2] After his admission to the Bar, he practiced law for several years in Buffalo, and then in the New York City.[3] [4] In 1849, he moved to California and practiced in San Francisco.[2] [5] [6] In 1851, he served as a member of the Whig Party central committee in Sacramento.[7]

Also in 1851, he was appointed Reporter of Decisions, and began drafting his reports. But after his drafts were destroyed in a city fire on May 4, 1851, he resigned from the position, and was replaced by Nathaniel Bennett.[8]

In November 1852, the Democratic Party nominated Norton for Judge of the San Francisco county District Court, running against the Whig candidate, Delos Lake, who won by merely 21 votes.[9] [10] [11] In June 1854, Governor John Bigler appointed Norton as a Judge of the Twelfth District Court, to stand at the next election.[12] [13] [14] In September 1854, Norton was elected on the ticket of both the Democratic Party and Know Nothings to a full term on that Court.[15] [16] [17] [18] On December 16, 1860, having continued on the District bench for a full term of six years, he retired on account of his health, which had become seriously impaired.[19] [20]

Norton determined to visit to Europe, intending to be absent several years. After his arrival in Europe, and without his knowledge, he was elected to the Supreme Court of California on the Republican Party ticket.[21] On receiving the news, he returned to California to commence his term in January 1862.[2] [22] [23] Chief Justice Stephen Johnson Field described Norton as a skilled trial court judge who was unsuited to the appellate bench.[24] In October 1863, elections were held for all seats on the Supreme Court due to an 1862 amendment to the California constitution and 1863 enabling law, and Norton chose to retire rather than seek re-election.[4]

One anecdote from Norton's service on the court involves him giving a young lawyer an examination for admission to the bar:

On May 2, 1872, Norton died while on a trip to London, England.[25]

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Riggs. S. S.. A General Catalogue of the Officers, Graduates and Students of Union College from 1795 to 1854. 1854. Union College. Schenectady, NY. 42. September 17, 2017.
  2. http://www.cschs.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CSCHS-Norton-Memorial.pdf In Memoriam
  3. News: Court Calendar. September 17, 2017. New-York Daily Tribune. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. January 2, 1843. 4. Edward Norton, lawyer, N.Y..
  4. Book: Johnson. J. Edward. History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1850-1900, vol 1. 1963. Bender Moss Co. San Francisco, CA. 84–85. August 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227124913/http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_1.pdf. December 27, 2016. dead.
  5. News: Local Matters, Superior Court. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 189. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 August 1850. 1. 2.
  6. News: Local Matters, Trial of Judge Morrison for Malfeasance. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 209. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 August 1850. 1. 2.
  7. News: Attention: Whigs of the Central Committee. September 17, 2017. Sacramento Daily Union. 3. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 21 March 1851. 3.
  8. "American Reports and Reporters", Albany Law Journal, Vol. 6 (Weed, Parsons & Company, 1873), p. 5. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  9. News: Miscellaneous, Whig Nominations. September 17, 2017. The New York Herald. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. November 9, 1852. The democrats had not yet made the whole of their nominations. Edward Norton had been nominated for District Judge..
  10. News: The Election To-Day. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 November 1852.
  11. News: The Official Vote. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 310. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 November 1852. 3. 2.
  12. News: Vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 306. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 November 1854. 5. 2. The appointment of Judge Norton was very gratifying.
  13. News: Associate Justice. September 17, 2017. Sacramento Daily Union. 1128. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 November 1854. 8. 2. We trust His Excellency will make an appointment in this case as judicious and satisfactory, as he did when the vacancy in the 12th District was filled by the nomination of Judge Norton..
  14. News: District Court of the Fourth Judicial District-Before Judge Norton. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 209. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 July 1854. 5. 2.
  15. News: The Know-Nothing Nominations. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 242. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 September 1854. 5. 2.
  16. News: Election Returns. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 250. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 September 1854. 5. 3.
  17. Book: Shuck. Oscar Tully. Representative and leading men of the Pacific. 1870. Bacon and Company. 200. edward norton tully.. August 7, 2017.
  18. News: Judge Hager. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 143. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 June 1855. 6. 2. we can hardly doubt that the appointee of the Governor will in this instance be endorsed by the people with as much unanimity as they endorsed Judge Norton at the last election..
  19. News: The Retirement of Judge Norton. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 3960. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 December 1860. 12. 2.
  20. News: Court Proceedings. September 17, 2017. Daily Alta California. 3981. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 January 1861. 13. 1.
  21. News: Judge Norton. September 17, 2017. Marin Journal. 25. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 September 1861. 2.
  22. News: Hon. Edward Norton. September 17, 2017. Marysville Daily Appeal. 154. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 December 1861. 5.
  23. News: The Courts, Supreme Court. September 17, 2017. Sacramento Daily Union. 3362. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 January 1862. 22. 5.
  24. Book: Tully. Oscar Shuck. California Anthology: Or, Striking Thoughts on Many Themes. 1880. Barry & Baird. 346–347. September 17, 2017.
  25. "Legal Obituaries", Albany Law Journal, Vol. 5 (Weed, Parsons & Company, 1872), p. 401. Retrieved September 17, 2017.

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