Frank H. Rudkin Explained

Frank H. Rudkin
Office:Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Term Start:January 9, 1923
Term End:May 3, 1931
Appointer:Warren G. Harding
Predecessor:William W. Morrow
Successor:Francis Arthur Garrecht
Office1:Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Term Start1:January 31, 1911
Term End1:January 17, 1923
Appointer1:William Howard Taft
Predecessor1:Edward Whitson
Successor1:J. Stanley Webster
Birth Name:Frank H. Rudkin
Birth Date:23 April 1864
Birth Place:Vernon Township, Ohio
Education:
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Frank H. Rudkin (April 23, 1864 – May 3, 1931)[1] was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Education and career

Born in Vernon Township,[2] Trumbull County, Ohio, Rudkin attended Washington and Lee University and read law in 1887 to enter the bar. He was in private practice in Ellensburg, Washington Territory (State of Washington from November 11, 1889) from 1887 to 1890, and in North Yakima (now Yakima), Washington from 1890 to 1901. He was a Judge of the Superior Court of Washington from 1901 to 1905, and of the Supreme Court of Washington from 1905 to 1911.

Federal judicial service

Rudkin was nominated by President William Howard Taft on January 17, 1911, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington vacated by Judge Edward Whitson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 31, 1911, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on January 17, 1923, due to his elevation to the Ninth Circuit.

Rudkin was nominated by President Warren G. Harding on January 5, 1923, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated by Judge William W. Morrow. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 9, 1923, and received his commission the same day. His service was terminated on May 3, 1931, due to his death from heart disease at St. Joseph's Hospital, San Francisco.[3]

Notable cases

Territory of Hawaii v. Anduha, 48 F.2d 171 (9th Cir. 1931) -This case involved an appeal by the Territory of Hawaii concerning "the validity of a statute of the territory of Hawaii providing that any person who shall habitually loaf, loiter, and/or idle upon any public street or highway or in any public place shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished as therein provided."[4]

Speaking for the court (which upheld the judgment), Judge Rudkin stated in part: "It is a matter of common knowledge, of which we must take judicial cognizance, that the majority of mankind spend a goodly part of their waking hours in whiling or idling the time away, and much of that time is spent on public streets and highways and in public places. Daylight saving laws have been enacted in order that those employed during the day may have more time at their disposal for recreation and pleasure; more time to idle, loiter, and loaf. On our streets daily are seen hundreds and even thousands of idle men who have nothing to do and no place to go, through no fault of their own, and are we to add to their misfortunes by declaring them lawbreakers and criminals?"[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of the Bench. Benton County, Washington. January 25, 2023.
  2. Book: Durham, Nelson Wayne. History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. 267. Frank H. Rudkin.. 1912. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Internet Archive.
  3. News: JUDGE FRANK RUDKIN.; Senior Federal Jurist of Pacific Coast Circuit Dies . The New York Times . 24 January 2021. 4 May 1931 .
  4. Web site: Territory of Hawaii v. Anduha, 48 F.2d 171 (9th Cir. 1931) . law.justia.com . 24 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Territory of Hawaii v. Anduha, 48 F.2d 171 (9th Cir. 1931) . law.justia.com . 25 January 2021.