Edward T. Fairchild (judge) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honorable
Edward T. Fairchild
Image Name:Edward T. Fairchild (1872-1965) (8253035657) (1).jpg
Caption:Fairchild circa 1940
Order:15th
Chief Justice of the
Term Start:January 1, 1954
Term End:January 7, 1957
Predecessor:Oscar M. Fritz
Successor:John E. Martin
Office1:Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Appointer1:Walter J. Kohler, Sr.
Term Start1:April 30, 1930
Term End1:January 7, 1957
Predecessor1:Franz C. Eschweiler
Successor1:Thomas E. Fairchild
Office2:Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge
Appointer2:Emanuel L. Philipp
Term Start2:September 1916
Term End2:April 30, 1930
Predecessor2:Franz C. Eschweiler
Successor2:John C. Kleczka
State3:Wisconsin
State Senate3:Wisconsin
District3:5th
Term Start3:January 13, 1915
Term End3:September 1916
Predecessor3:George J. Weigle
Successor3:Henry Otto Reinnoldt
Term Start4:January 9, 1907
Term End4:January 11, 1911
Predecessor4:Charles Cassius Rogers
Successor4:George J. Weigle
Birth Name:Edward Thomas Fairchild
Birth Date:17 June 1872
Birth Place:Towanda, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Restingplace:Green Mount Cemetery
Dansville, New York
Party:Republican
Religion:-->

Edward Thomas Fairchild (June 17, 1872October 29, 1965) was an American jurist and legislator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the 15th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court; he served on the Court for 27 years, from 1930 to 1957. Before that, he served 14 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County. He also represented central Milwaukee County for six years as a Republican in the Wisconsin Senate. His son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was also a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a judge of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Early life and education

Born in Towanda, Pennsylvania, Fairchild grew up in Dansville, New York, where he was educated. He was employed in a newspaper and studied law in the office of Rowe and Coyne. Later, he bought a farm in Dansville, where he would go to for vacations.[1]

Career

After being admitted to the New York bar, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked in the district attorney's office.

In 1906 he was elected to his first of three terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, ultimately serving in the 48th, 49th, and 52nd sessions of the Wisconsin legislature. In 1916, during the 52nd session of the legislature, he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County.

In 1930, Fairchild was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court[2] and served as chief justice from 1954 until his retirement in 1957.

In 1957, he administered the oath of office when his son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1907 . The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin, 1907 . State of Wisconsin . Biographical sketches. 1126–1127 . April 23, 2019.
  2. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1931 . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1931. State of Wisconsin. Judicial branch of the state government . 385 . April 23, 2019.
  3. Web site: Wisconsin Court System - Edward T. Fairchild . 2010-07-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100609115312/http://www.wicourts.gov/about/judges/supreme/retired/fairchild.htm . 2010-06-09 .