Carroll O. Switzer
Encyclopedia
Carroll O. Switzer was an unsuccessful candidate for Iowa's governorship who later served as a state court judge and (briefly) as a United States federal judge
.
Born in Pilot Mound, Iowa
, Switzer received an LL.B. from Drake University
in 1931. Following graduate work at Northwestern University
, he entered private practice in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa
. He was an assistant city solicitor for Des Moines from 1936 to 1938. While serving as Polk County
Attorney from 1946 to 1948, he was the democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa in 1948, losing in the general election to William S. Beardsley
.
In early 1949, President Harry S. Truman announced his plan to nominate Switzer to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
vacated by Charles A. Dewey. Although supported by the state Democratic Party chair, Switzer was not among the two choices suggested to Truman by Iowa's only Democratic U.S. Senator, Guy M. Gillette, and was opposed by bar associations in the District's largest counties. Gillette, who considered Truman's nomination of Switzer a "personal affront," held up the nomination in the Senate until that body adjourned in 1949. On October 21, 1949, Switzer received a recess appointment
from President Truman, and began to serve soon thereafter. Formally re-nominated on January 5, 1950, in the face of Gillette's continued opposition, Switzer was not confirmed by the Senate. When the Senate unanimously rejected Switzer's appointment on August 9, 1950, Switzer continued to serve but without pay. Truman then nominated William F. Riley
, one of the two candidates on Gillette's original list. Riley was easily confirmed by a lame-duck Democratic Senate, and sworn in as 1950 ended.
In 1957, Iowa Governor Herschel Loveless appointed him to the state district court bench in Des Moines. He was elected to that position the following year. While preparing to preside as chairman of the 1960 Democratic State Convention in Des Moines, Switzer was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains. While hospitalized, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Pilot Mound, Iowa
Pilot Mound, Iowa
Pilot Mound is a city in Pilot Mound Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. The population was 215 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which is a part of the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area'.-Geography:Pilot Mound is located at...
, Switzer received an LL.B. from Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in 1931. Following graduate work at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, he entered private practice in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. He was an assistant city solicitor for Des Moines from 1936 to 1938. While serving as Polk County
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
Attorney from 1946 to 1948, he was the democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa in 1948, losing in the general election to William S. Beardsley
William S. Beardsley
William Shane "Bill" Beardsley was the 31st Governor of Iowa from 1949 to 1954.-Biography:Beardsley was born in Beacon, Iowa and grew up in Birmingham, Iowa. The son of a pharmacist, he attended pharmacy school himself, and established a drugstore in New Virginia, Iowa in 1922. He was elected to...
.
In early 1949, President Harry S. Truman announced his plan to nominate Switzer to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
vacated by Charles A. Dewey. Although supported by the state Democratic Party chair, Switzer was not among the two choices suggested to Truman by Iowa's only Democratic U.S. Senator, Guy M. Gillette, and was opposed by bar associations in the District's largest counties. Gillette, who considered Truman's nomination of Switzer a "personal affront," held up the nomination in the Senate until that body adjourned in 1949. On October 21, 1949, Switzer received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Truman, and began to serve soon thereafter. Formally re-nominated on January 5, 1950, in the face of Gillette's continued opposition, Switzer was not confirmed by the Senate. When the Senate unanimously rejected Switzer's appointment on August 9, 1950, Switzer continued to serve but without pay. Truman then nominated William F. Riley
William F. Riley
William F. Riley was a United States federal judge for Iowa's southern district during the 1950s....
, one of the two candidates on Gillette's original list. Riley was easily confirmed by a lame-duck Democratic Senate, and sworn in as 1950 ended.
In 1957, Iowa Governor Herschel Loveless appointed him to the state district court bench in Des Moines. He was elected to that position the following year. While preparing to preside as chairman of the 1960 Democratic State Convention in Des Moines, Switzer was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains. While hospitalized, he suffered a fatal heart attack.