Henry White Edgerton
Encyclopedia
Henry White Edgerton was a United States federal judge
who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Born in Rush Center, Kansas
, Edgerton received an A.B.
from Cornell University
in 1910, and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
in 1914. He then entered private practice as an attorney, first in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1914, and then in Boston
from 1915 until 1916. Edgerton was a professor at Cornell Law School
from 1916 until 1918, when he returned to private practice in Boston. In 1921, he took a teaching position at the George Washington University Law School until 1928, and then taught at Cornell University until 1937. While at Cornell, Edgerton served as Special Assistant to the United States Attorney General
from 1934 until 1935, during Franklin D. Roosevelt
's first term as president.
On November 26, 1937, Roosevelt nominated Edgerton to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated by Duncan Lawrence Groner
. Edgerton was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 9, 1937, and received his commission on December 15, 1937. Edgerton served as Chief Judge of the court from 1955 until 1958, assuming senior status
on April 22, 1963 and serving in that capacity until his death, in Washington, D.C.
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....
who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Born in Rush Center, Kansas
Rush Center, Kansas
Rush Center is a city in Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 170.-Geography:Rush Center is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were...
, Edgerton received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1910, and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1914. He then entered private practice as an attorney, first in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1914, and then in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
from 1915 until 1916. Edgerton was a professor at Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
from 1916 until 1918, when he returned to private practice in Boston. In 1921, he took a teaching position at the George Washington University Law School until 1928, and then taught at Cornell University until 1937. While at Cornell, Edgerton served as Special Assistant to the United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
from 1934 until 1935, during Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's first term as president.
On November 26, 1937, Roosevelt nominated Edgerton to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated by Duncan Lawrence Groner
Duncan Lawrence Groner
Duncan Lawrence Groner was a United States federal judge.Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Groner received a LL.D. from Washington and Lee University in 1894. He was in private practice in Norfolk, Virginia from 1894 to 1921. He was a Delegate to every Republican National Convention from 1904 to 1920...
. Edgerton was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 9, 1937, and received his commission on December 15, 1937. Edgerton served as Chief Judge of the court from 1955 until 1958, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on April 22, 1963 and serving in that capacity until his death, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....