Robert W. Archbald
Encyclopedia
Robert Wodrow Archbald was a United States federal court judge from Pennsylvania
. He was the ninth federal official on whom Articles of Impeachment
were served, and only the third to be convicted and removed from office.
Born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
of James Archbald
and Sarah Augusta Frothingham Archbald (born 1805), Archbald attended Yale University
, graduating with an A.B.
in 1871. He read law
in 1873, and was admitted to the bar
, entering private practice until 1884. That year, Archbald was appointed as a Judge on the Lackawanna County
(45th Judicial District) Court of Common Pleas
. He was made President Judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1888.
from President
William McKinley
to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
, to a new seat created by 31 Stat. 880. He was formally nominated on December 5, 1901, and confirmed
by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on December 17, 1901.
On December 12, 1910, he was nominated by President William Howard Taft
to the United States Commerce Court
, created by 36 Stat. 539. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1911, and received his commission the same day. In addition to his duties on the Commerce Court, Archbald was also assigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
by Chief Justice
Edward Douglass White
upon his commission to help reduce workload.
, Archbald was impeached by the United States House of Representatives
on 13 Articles by a vote of 223 to 1 on July 13, 1912. Articles I, II, III and VI alleged that Archbald had entered into agreements with litigants at a substantial benefit to himself. Article IV alleged a wrongful communication with litigants. Articles V, VII, VIII, IX and X alleged that he had improperly solicited and accepted gifts from litigants. Article XI alleged he had improperly solicited and accepted gifts from attorneys. Article XII alleged he allowed corrupt practices during jury selection. Article XIII alleged a general charge of bringing the Judiciary into disrepute. The offences alleged in Articles I through XI were connected with holidays in Europe and other gifts received from coal mine workers and railroad officials.
On 16 July, the Senate began Archbald's trial. The Senate convicted him of five of the 13 articles on 13 January, 1913. The Senate then voted to disqualify him from further office by a vote of 39 to 35.
The exact division on each Article is as follows:
Archbald was convicted on Articles I, III, IV, V and XIII and was accordingly removed from office. (Article II gained a majority of votes, but not the two-thirds necessary under the U.S. Constitution
to convict).
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was the ninth federal official on whom Articles of Impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
were served, and only the third to be convicted and removed from office.
Born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due northeast of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania...
of James Archbald
James Archbald
-Beginnings:James Archbald was born 3 March 1793, on Little Cumbrae island, off the Ayrshire Coast of Scotland. Born to a family of shepherds, without any privileges, James Archbald had a bright future ahead of him. The agricultural lifestyle had its disadvantages, namely the treatment received...
and Sarah Augusta Frothingham Archbald (born 1805), Archbald attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, graduating with 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...
in 1871. He read law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
in 1873, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, entering private practice until 1884. That year, Archbald was appointed as a Judge on the Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
(45th Judicial District) Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
. He was made President Judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1888.
Federal judge
On March 29, 1901, Archbald received a recess appointmentRecess 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
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
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 the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is district level federal court with jurisdiction over approximately one half of Pennsylvania...
, to a new seat created by 31 Stat. 880. He was formally nominated on December 5, 1901, and confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
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 December 17, 1901.
On December 12, 1910, he was nominated by President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
to the United States Commerce Court
United States Commerce Court
The Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
, created by 36 Stat. 539. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1911, and received his commission the same day. In addition to his duties on the Commerce Court, Archbald was also assigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
by Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
Edward Douglass White
Edward Douglass White
Edward Douglass White, Jr. , American politician and jurist, was a United States senator, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the ninth Chief Justice of the United States. He was best known for formulating the Rule of Reason standard of antitrust law. He also sided with the...
upon his commission to help reduce workload.
Impeachment
After an investigation by Wrisley BrownWrisley Brown
Wrisley Brown was Washington, DC lawyer and a soldier.-Biography:In 1911 he served as a special assistant to George W. Wickersham, the United States Attorney General. He ran the investigation that led to the impeachment of Judge Robert Wodrow Archbald of the United States Commerce Court on June...
, Archbald was impeached by the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
on 13 Articles by a vote of 223 to 1 on July 13, 1912. Articles I, II, III and VI alleged that Archbald had entered into agreements with litigants at a substantial benefit to himself. Article IV alleged a wrongful communication with litigants. Articles V, VII, VIII, IX and X alleged that he had improperly solicited and accepted gifts from litigants. Article XI alleged he had improperly solicited and accepted gifts from attorneys. Article XII alleged he allowed corrupt practices during jury selection. Article XIII alleged a general charge of bringing the Judiciary into disrepute. The offences alleged in Articles I through XI were connected with holidays in Europe and other gifts received from coal mine workers and railroad officials.
On 16 July, the Senate began Archbald's trial. The Senate convicted him of five of the 13 articles on 13 January, 1913. The Senate then voted to disqualify him from further office by a vote of 39 to 35.
The exact division on each Article is as follows:
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Archbald was convicted on Articles I, III, IV, V and XIII and was accordingly removed from office. (Article II gained a majority of votes, but not the two-thirds necessary under the U.S. Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
to convict).