J. Otis Humphrey
Encyclopedia
J. Otis Humphrey was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Morgan County, Illinois, Humphrey attended Shurtleff College
, and read law to enter the bar in 1880. He was a legal clerk for the Illinois State Office of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners from 1880 to 1883. He was in private practice in Springfield, Illinois
from 1883 to 1897. He was then the United States Attorney
for the Southern District of Illinois from 1897 to 1901.
On March 7, 1901, Humphrey was nominated by President William McKinley
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
vacated by William J. Allen
. Humphrey was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 8, 1901, and received his commission the same day. Humphrey served in that capacity until his death, in 1918.
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 Morgan County, Illinois, Humphrey attended Shurtleff College
Shurtleff College
Shurtleff College was founded 1827 in Alton, Illinois by Reverend John Mason Peck as Alton Seminary. It became Shurtleff College in 1836 honoring Dr. Brendon Shurtleff, of Boston, who donated $10,000 to the college. Andrew Carnegie in 1910 donated $15,000 for construction of a library...
, and read law to enter the bar in 1880. He was a legal clerk for the Illinois State Office of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners from 1880 to 1883. He was in private practice in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
from 1883 to 1897. He was then the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Southern District of Illinois from 1897 to 1901.
On March 7, 1901, Humphrey was nominated 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...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a Federal district court covering approximately the southern half of the state of Illinois....
vacated by William J. Allen
William J. Allen
William Joshua Allen was a U.S. Representative from Illinois during much of the American Civil War, and was later a United States federal judge....
. Humphrey 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 March 8, 1901, and received his commission the same day. Humphrey served in that capacity until his death, in 1918.