John Pitman (judge)
Encyclopedia
John Pitman was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island
, Pitman was educated at Brown University
, receiving an A.B. in 1799, at the age of fifteen. He read law to enter the New Hampshire
Bar in 1805, and the New York
Bar in 1806. From 1806 to 1821, he engaged in the private practice of law in various locations, including New York City
(1806–1807), Kentucky
(1807–1808), Providence, Rhode Island, (1808–1812 and 1820–1821), Salem, Massachusetts
(1812–1816), and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
(1816–1820). From 1821 to 1824, he was the United States Attorney
for the District of Rhode Island.
On August 4, 1824, Pitman received a recess appointment
from President James Monroe
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
vacated by David Howell
. Pitman was formally nominated on December 16, 1824, and was confirmed by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on January 3, 1825. Pitman continued in that office for 40 years, until his death, in Providence, Rhode Island.
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 Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Pitman was educated at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, receiving an A.B. in 1799, at the age of fifteen. He read law to enter the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
Bar in 1805, and the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Bar in 1806. From 1806 to 1821, he engaged in the private practice of law in various locations, including New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(1806–1807), Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(1807–1808), Providence, Rhode Island, (1808–1812 and 1820–1821), Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
(1812–1816), and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
(1816–1820). From 1821 to 1824, he was 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 District of Rhode Island.
On August 4, 1824, Pitman 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 James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution...
vacated by David Howell
David Howell (jurist)
David Howell was an American jurist and statesman from Providence, Rhode Island.Born in Morristown, New Jersey, Howell graduated from Princeton University in 1766, and received an A.M. from Brown University in 1769. He was in private practice in Providence, Rhode Island from 1768 to 1779...
. Pitman was formally nominated on December 16, 1824, and 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...
, and received his commission, on January 3, 1825. Pitman continued in that office for 40 years, until his death, in Providence, Rhode Island.