Frank W. Parker
Encyclopedia
Frank Wilson Parker was an American judge who served on the New Mexico Supreme Court
for 35 years, from its territorial period to after statehood.
Parker was born in Sturgis, Michigan
, to James W. Parker and Maria Antoinette (Thompson). He earned a Bachelor of Laws
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1880, and practiced law for a year in Sturgis before moving to Mesilla
in New Mexico Territory
in 1881. He moved in 1882 to Kingston, a mining town in Sierra County
, and then to Hillsboro
in 1883. He served as the Sierra County school superintendent from 1887 to 1889.
A Republican
, Parker was appointed to serve on the Territorial Supreme Court on January 10, 1898 by President William McKinley
, on the recommendation of territorial governor Miguel Antonio Otero. He was reappointed to the Territorial Supreme Court by President Theodore Roosevelt
in 1901 and 1905, and by William Howard Taft
in 1909. While serving as a territorial district court judge, he presided over two trials that received national publicity. In 1899, ranchers Oliver Lee and Jim Gilliland were charged with the murder of lawyer and Republican
politician Albert J. Fountain and his son, three years after their disappearance. Sheriff Pat Garrett
, famous for killing outlaw Billy the Kid
, obtained the indictments. The ranchers were defended by Albert Bacon Fall, a Democratic
rival of Fountain's, who obtained an acquittal; Fountain's murder was never solved. In 1909, Parker presided over the trial of Jesse Wayne Brazel
, this time for the murder of Garrett. Fall again represented the defendant, and again obtained an acquittal.
Parker served as a member of New Mexico's constitutional convention
and as chair of the committee on judiciary. New Mexico
achieved statehood in 1912, and Parker was one of the first three justices elected to the Supreme Court. He continued to secure re-election, always running on the Republican ticket, and served on the court until his death in 1932. During his tenure, he served as Chief Justice from 1919 to 1920 and 1922 to 1928. He also served as chair of the state's boundary commission during a boundary dispute with Texas
.
In 1923, the New Mexico State Tribune, a pro-Democratic
newspaper, suggested that Parker had misused court funds. The paper's editor and publisher, Carl Magee
, was subsequently tried and convicted of criminal libel.
Parker was married twice. He married Lillian L. Kinney on September 28, 1892; she died on August 11, 1893. They had one daughter, Rosamond Lillian. On October 26, 1904, he married Anna Davis, with whom he had a son, Frank Wilson, Jr. He was a freemason and a member of the Elks Lodge
. Parker is buried at Fairview Cemetery
in Santa Fe.
New Mexico Supreme Court
The New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution...
for 35 years, from its territorial period to after statehood.
Parker was born in Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
, to James W. Parker and Maria Antoinette (Thompson). He earned a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1880, and practiced law for a year in Sturgis before moving to Mesilla
Mesilla, New Mexico
Mesilla is a town in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2000 census...
in New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
in 1881. He moved in 1882 to Kingston, a mining town in Sierra County
Sierra County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.6% White*0.4% Black*1.7% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.3% Two or more races*8.6% Other races*28.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and then to Hillsboro
Hillsboro, New Mexico
Hillsboro is a small unincorporated community in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States, located in the southwestern part of the state. It was founded in 1877, following the discovery of gold. The community was the county seat of Sierra County from 1884 until 1936 when Hot Springs became the...
in 1883. He served as the Sierra County school superintendent from 1887 to 1889.
A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Parker was appointed to serve on the Territorial Supreme Court on January 10, 1898 by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, on the recommendation of territorial governor Miguel Antonio Otero. He was reappointed to the Territorial Supreme Court by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in 1901 and 1905, and by William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
in 1909. While serving as a territorial district court judge, he presided over two trials that received national publicity. In 1899, ranchers Oliver Lee and Jim Gilliland were charged with the murder of lawyer and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician Albert J. Fountain and his son, three years after their disappearance. Sheriff Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett
Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who was best known for killing Billy the Kid...
, famous for killing outlaw Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, obtained the indictments. The ranchers were defended by Albert Bacon Fall, a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
rival of Fountain's, who obtained an acquittal; Fountain's murder was never solved. In 1909, Parker presided over the trial of Jesse Wayne Brazel
Jesse Wayne Brazel
Jesse Wayne Brazel, or Wayne Brazel was a ranch hand in the closing years of the Old West, best known for killing former lawman Pat Garrett in 1908, who had killed Billy The Kid many years before....
, this time for the murder of Garrett. Fall again represented the defendant, and again obtained an acquittal.
Parker served as a member of New Mexico's constitutional convention
Constitution of the State of New Mexico
The Constitution of the State of New Mexico is the document governing the political framework of this U.S. state. Article II contains a bill of rights...
and as chair of the committee on judiciary. New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
achieved statehood in 1912, and Parker was one of the first three justices elected to the Supreme Court. He continued to secure re-election, always running on the Republican ticket, and served on the court until his death in 1932. During his tenure, he served as Chief Justice from 1919 to 1920 and 1922 to 1928. He also served as chair of the state's boundary commission during a boundary dispute with Texas
State of New Mexico v. State of Texas
New Mexico v. Texas, 275 U.S. 279, 48 S. Ct. 437 , was a United States Supreme Court case that determined the boundary between Texas and New Mexico in the vicinity of El Paso, Texas.-Background:...
.
In 1923, the New Mexico State Tribune, a pro-Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
newspaper, suggested that Parker had misused court funds. The paper's editor and publisher, Carl Magee
Carl Magee
Carlton Cole "Carl" Magee was an American lawyer and publisher. He also patented the first parking meter. He was born in Iowa.Magee founded the Magee's Independent in 1922, which would change its name to the New Mexico State Tribune in 1923 and to the Albuquerque Tribune in 1933. The Tribune...
, was subsequently tried and convicted of criminal libel.
Parker was married twice. He married Lillian L. Kinney on September 28, 1892; she died on August 11, 1893. They had one daughter, Rosamond Lillian. On October 26, 1904, he married Anna Davis, with whom he had a son, Frank Wilson, Jr. He was a freemason and a member of the Elks Lodge
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
. Parker is buried at Fairview Cemetery
Fairview Cemetery (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Fairview Cemetery is a graveyard in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was for many years the only non-Catholic cemetery in the city. There are roughly 3,700 people buried there. The graveyard is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
in Santa Fe.