John Cochran Nicoll
Encyclopedia
John Cochran Nicoll was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Savannah, Georgia
, Nicoll attended the Tapping Reeve Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut
. He entered private practice in Savannah, and was that city's recorder of judgments. He served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
. He was a Solicitor, Eastern Circuit of Georgia from 1821 to 1822. He was a judge, first on the City Court of Savannah from 1824 to 1834, then on the Superior Court for the Eastern Circuit of Georgia until 1835, and again on the City Court of Savannah from 1835 to 1838. He also served for a time as mayor of Savannah.
On May 11, 1839, received a recess appointment
from President Martin Van Buren
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Jeremiah Cuyler. Formally nominated on January 23, 1840, Nicoll was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 17, 1840, and received his commission the same day. On August 11, 1848, the District of Georgia was subdivided into Northern
and Southern
Districts. Nicoll was reassigned by operation of law
to both Districts, and remained the sole federal judge for the state of Georgia for the duration of his service. He resigned on January 19, 1861, siding with the Confederate States during the American Civil War
.
He was a district attorney in Georgia for the Confederate States of America from 1861 until his death, in 1863 in Savannah.
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, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Nicoll attended the Tapping Reeve Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
. He entered private practice in Savannah, and was that city's recorder of judgments. He served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
. He was a Solicitor, Eastern Circuit of Georgia from 1821 to 1822. He was a judge, first on the City Court of Savannah from 1824 to 1834, then on the Superior Court for the Eastern Circuit of Georgia until 1835, and again on the City Court of Savannah from 1835 to 1838. He also served for a time as mayor of Savannah.
On May 11, 1839, 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 Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Jeremiah Cuyler. Formally nominated on January 23, 1840, Nicoll 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 February 17, 1840, and received his commission the same day. On August 11, 1848, the District of Georgia was subdivided into Northern
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States District Court which serves the residents of forty-six counties...
and Southern
United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia is a United States District Court which serves the residents of thirty-four counties in Georgia through six divisions....
Districts. Nicoll was reassigned by operation of law
Operation of law
The phrase "by operation of law" is a legal term that indicates that a right or liability has been created for a party, irrespective of the intent of that party, because it is dictated by existing legal principles. For example, if a person dies without a will, his heirs are determined by operation...
to both Districts, and remained the sole federal judge for the state of Georgia for the duration of his service. He resigned on January 19, 1861, siding with the Confederate States during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He was a district attorney in Georgia for the Confederate States of America from 1861 until his death, in 1863 in Savannah.