James Herbert Wilkerson
Encyclopedia
James Herbert Wilkerson was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Savannah, Missouri
, Wilkerson received an A.B.
from DePauw University
in 1889. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1893 to 1922. He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives
in 1902, and was a county attorney of Cook County, Illinois
from 1903 to 1904. He was a special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States from 1906 to 1911, and was then the United States Attorney
for the Northern District of Illinois from 1911 to 1914. He was a chairman of the Illinois Public Utilities Commission from 1919 to 1921.
On July 11, 1922, Wilkerson was nominated by President Warren G. Harding
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
vacated by Kenesaw M. Landis. Wilkerson was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 18, 1922, and received his commission the same day. On November 24, 1931 he was the judge who sentenced Al Capone
to 11 years in prison. He assumed senior status
on December 31, 1940, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1948.
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 Savannah, Missouri
Savannah, Missouri
Savannah is a city in Andrew County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,762 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Andrew County.Savannah is part of the St...
, Wilkerson 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 DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in 1889. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1893 to 1922. He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
in 1902, and was a county attorney of Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
from 1903 to 1904. He was a special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States from 1906 to 1911, and 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 Northern District of Illinois from 1911 to 1914. He was a chairman of the Illinois Public Utilities Commission from 1919 to 1921.
On July 11, 1922, Wilkerson was nominated by President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
vacated by Kenesaw M. Landis. Wilkerson 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 July 18, 1922, and received his commission the same day. On November 24, 1931 he was the judge who sentenced Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
to 11 years in prison. He assumed 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 December 31, 1940, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1948.