Frank Henry Kerrigan Explained

Frank Henry Kerrigan
Office:Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Term Start:January 28, 1924
Term End:February 9, 1935
Appointer:Calvin Coolidge
Predecessor:William Cary Van Fleet
Successor:Michael Joseph Roche
Office1:Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
Term Start1:January 8, 1923
Term End1:February 11, 1924
Predecessor1:William A. Sloane
Successor1:John E. Richards
Office2:Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District
Term Start2:January 9, 1907
Term End2:January 7, 1923
Predecessor2:Ralph C. Harrison
Birth Date:17 September 1868
Birth Place:Contra Costa County, California
Death Place:San Francisco, California
Party:Republican
Education:
College of the Law
read law

Frank Henry Kerrigan (September 17, 1868 – February 9, 1935) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. He also served for nearly 30 years as a California state court judge, and was an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from January 8, 1923, to February 11, 1924.

Education and career

Kerrigan was born in Contra Costa County, California, to Henry Kerrigan and Elizabeth Donlin, and attended the local schools.[1] Kerrigan then studied at University of California, Hastings College of the Law and read law to enter the bar in 1889.[2] From 1890 to 1900, Kerrigan was in private practice in San Francisco, California. During this time, from 1894 to 1900, he was also a justice of the peace in San Francisco, and in January 1896 was made presiding justice of the court.[3] [4] When he resigned from the city court, Governor Henry Gage named Percy V. Long as a replacement.[5]

State judicial service

Kerrigan was elected a judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court from 1900 to 1906.[6] [7] In November 1900, he won election to a four-year unexpired term, at the same time future Supreme Court judges William P. Lawlor and M. C. Sloss won full terms on the Superior Court.[8] In 1904, Kerrigan was re-elected to a new term on the trial bench.[9] Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, a test case was brought before Judge Kerrigan to establish land title since so many legal records were destroyed.[10] [11] Governor George Pardee appointed John A. Hosmer to Kerrigan's Superior Court seat when he went to the state appellate court.[12]

In November 1906, Kerrigan was nominated on the Republican Party ticket and elected as an associate justice of the newly created California District Court of Appeals, First District.[13] He held this seat from January 8, 1907 to January 7, 1923.[14] The three judges elected in 1906 drew straws to determine length of term, and Kerrigan drew an eight-year term. In May 1907, Kerrigan was nearly run over by an automobile at the corner of Sutter and Gough Streets.[15] In 1914, he ran successfully for re-election.[16] In April 1920, he temporarily sat on the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy of Justice Lucien Shaw. At that time, Kerrigan sought the appointment to the open seat of Justice Henry A. Melvin, who died during his term. But Governor William Stephens named William A. Sloane to the position instead.[17] Again, in November 1921, Kerrigan was a strong contender for appointment to the high court when Frank M. Angellotti retired, but he was not picked.[18]

In November 1922, Kerrigan won election as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California, serving from January 8, 1923, to February 11, 1924.[19] [20] [21] In the election, he and Emmett Seawell replaced incumbent justices William Sloane and Charles A. Shurtleff.[22]

Federal judicial service

Kerrigan was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on January 21, 1924, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge William Cary Van Fleet.[23] [24] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 28, 1924, and received his commission the same day. In February 1932, he was the trial judge for the case seeking to block construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, in which he upheld the legality of the special purpose district.[25] [26] In September 1932, during Prohibition, he ruled bottles and bottle caps had potentially legal uses and were not in violation of the national dry laws.[27] Kerrigan died in office on February 9, 1935, in San Francisco.[24] In August 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that Superior Court Judge Michael Joseph Roche would succeed Kerrigan, instead of Congressman Clarence F. Lea, who had sought the post.[28]

Clubs

Kerrigan was an early bicycle aficionado, and was president of both the Associated Cycling Clubs in 1897,[29] and the next year of the Bay City Wheelmen.[30] [31] [32] In 1900, he was grandmaster of the 20-mile road race for the Baker & Hamilton Trophy.[33] In 1904, he awarded the winner of the mile bicycle race the Frank Kerrigan cup.[34] In December 1909, Kerrigan and his friends in the Olympic Club ran a four mile course capped by a mid-winter swim in the Pacific Ocean.[35] He also belonged to the California Club, where he competed in tournament tennis.[36] Kerrigan was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West,[37] and the Order of Eastern Star.[38]

Personal life

On November 29, 1905, Kerrigan married Jessie McNab.[39] [40] The couple reconciled after a separation from 1915 to 1918, and in 1920 they divorced.[41] [42] They had two children, Stewart and Jane.[24] [43]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Judge Frank H. Kerrigan. August 12, 2017. Mariposa Gazette. 23. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 October 1922. 1.
  2. News: Judge Kerrigan Seeks Place on Supreme Bench. July 28, 2017. Sacramento Union. 26037. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 29 June 1922. 5. Judge Kerrigan is a native of Contra Costa county, receiving his education in the public schools of that place, later taking college work at the Hastings College of Law..
  3. News: Kerrigan Will Preside. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 40. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 January 1896. 79. 14.
  4. News: Frank H. Kerrigan, presiding Justice of the Peace. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 132. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 10 October 1900. 87. 12.
  5. News: Commissioned by Gage and Phelan, Long Appointed Justice of the Peace to Succeed Kerrigan. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 25. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 December 1900. 87. 12.
  6. News: Story of the City's Ballots. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 160. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 November 1900. 87. 14. Photo of Frank H. Kerrigan.
  7. News: Judge Kerrigan's Stenographer. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 13. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 13 December 1900. 87. 7.
  8. News: The Superior Bench. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 159. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 November 1900. 87. 6.
  9. News: People Favor Incumbent Superior Judges. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 143. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 21 October 1904. 96. 2. There is active public sentiment in favor of the re-election of the incumbent Superior Judges Frank H. Kerrigan..
  10. News: Title Act Argued Before Court. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 97. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 September 1906. 100. 4.
  11. News: Add to Opinion on Title Act. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 37. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 January 1907. 101. 44.
  12. News: Governor Jolts Interests in Filling Vacancies on the Superior Bench of State. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 39. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 January 1907. 101. 1. Judge John A. Hosmer was appointed to succeed Judge Frank H. Kerrigan, who, according to the Governor's construction of the law creating the District Appellate Court, ceased to be a Judge of the San Francisco court at 12 o'clock last night.
  13. News: Republicans Name Ticket. August 12, 2017. Red Bluff News. 44. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 14 September 1906. 2.
  14. News: Appellate Judge Hall Draws Longest Straw. August 12, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 100. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 January 1907. 34. 1.
  15. News: Judge Kerrigan Meets With Painful Accident. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 173. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 May 1907. 101. 14.
  16. Book: California Blue Book, Or State Roster. 1915. State Printing Office. Sacramento, CA. 436. July 27, 2017. Election 1914, For the First District, Frank H. Kerrigan was elected Associate Justice for a full term, vice self, term expired..
  17. News: Many Candidates for Supreme Bench. August 12, 2017. Sacramento Union. 59. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 April 1920. 3.
  18. News: Lucien Shaw May Be Named Chief of Supreme Court. August 12, 2017. Sacramento Union. 25800. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 November 1921. 1.
  19. News: Judge Kerrigan Seeks Place on Supreme Bench. August 12, 2017. Sacramento Union. 26037. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 29 June 1922. 5.
  20. News: Keen Interest in Contest for Bench. August 12, 2017. Sacramento Union. 26167. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 November 1922. 2.
  21. News: Vote Tabulation. July 27, 2017. Sacramento Union. 26171. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 11 November 1922. 2. Frank H. Kerrigan, 315,093 (votes).
  22. News: Interest Turns to Judgeship Race. August 12, 2017. Sacramento Union. 26169. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 November 1922. 2.
  23. News: Kerrigan to be Federal Judge. August 12, 2017. Madera Tribune. 66. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 21 January 1924. 1.
  24. News: Judge Kerrigan Dead in S. F. of Heart Illness. July 25, 2017. Healdsburg Tribune. 84. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 11 February 1935. 4.
  25. News: Gate Bridge Battle Starts in S.F. Courts. August 12, 2017. Healdsburg Tribune. Tribune Service. 89. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 17 February 1932. 2.
  26. News: Marin Co. Body Urges Rossi in Bridge Appeal. August 12, 2017. Healdsburg Tribune. 232. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 August 1932. 4.
  27. News: Sale of Beer Making Goods Ruled Legal. August 12, 2017. Healdsburg Tribune. United Press. 262. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 13 September 1932. 4.
  28. News: Roche Picked for Judgeship, Lea Gets Go-by. July 25, 2017. Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 August 1935. 4.
  29. News: His Hopes Realized, Kerrigan Had Made the New Cycling Movement Success, When Its Membership Exceeded the League's His Work Was Done. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 68. 7 August 1897. 82. 14.
  30. News: To Govern Cyclers, Bay City Wheelmen Elect Officers for the Ensuing Term — Baker & Hamilton Race. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 99. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 7 September 1898. 84. 9.
  31. News: President Frank H. Kerrigan of the Bay City Wheelmen. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 69. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 August 1897. 82. 16.
  32. News: Cyclers' Annual Picnic, Annual Outing of the Bay City Wheelman. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 June 1898. 7. "Baseball and various other outdoor games served to pass the time until lunch..
  33. News: Twenty-Mile Race Will Have Two Entries. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 107. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 September 1900. 87. 4.
  34. News: Lawrence Wins Kerrigan Cup. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 155. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 November 1904. 96. 6.
  35. News: Clubmen to Take Dip in the Briny. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 28. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 December 1909. 107. 8.
  36. News: Two Teams Left in Tennis Play. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 26. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 26 December 1902. 93. 3.
  37. News: Stanford's New Officers, Members of the Popular Native Son's Parlor at an Installation Banquet. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 43. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 12 January 1900. 87. 11. Judge Frank H. Kerrigan acted as toastmaster and was at his best, keeping the Native Sons In a roar by the witty manner of introducing those who had been selected to entertain and to respond to toasts..
  38. News: Eastern Star Has Annual Reception. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 113. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 21 September 1908. 104. 5.
  39. News: Miss Jessie McNab Engaged. August 12, 2017. Press Democrat. 237. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 26 September 1905. 3.
  40. News: Wedded at Chancel of Chrysanthemums, Miss McNab Plights Troth with Jurist in Floral Dreamland. August 12, 2017. San Francisco Call. 183. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 November 1905. 98. 4.
  41. News: Judge Reconciled to Wife After 4 Years. August 12, 2017. Los Angeles Herald. 268. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 10 September 1918. 11.
  42. Book: Johnson. J. Edward. History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1900-1950, vol 2. 1966. Bancroft-Whitney. San Francisco, CA. 74–80. August 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170125153045/http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_2.pdf. January 25, 2017. dead.
  43. News: Granddaughter of Ross Hastings Is Named. August 12, 2017. Sausalito News. 46. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 24 November 1938. 3.

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