William Allen Woods
Encyclopedia
William Allen Woods was a United States federal judge
.
Woods received an A.B.
from Wabash College
in 1859 and read law to enter the bar in 1861. He was in private practice in Goshen, Indiana
from 1862 to 1867. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from 1867 to 1869, returning to private practice in Goshen from 1870 to 1873. He was a judge on the 34th Judicial District of Indiana from 1874 to 1880, and then a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from 1881 to 1883.
On May 2, 1883, Woods received a recess appointment
from President Chester A. Arthur
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana. vacated by Walter Q. Gresham
. Formally nominated on December 18, 1883, Woods was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 7, 1884, and received his commission the same day.
On December 16, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison
nominated Woods for elevation to a new seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
created by 26 Stat. 826. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1892, and received his commission the same day. Woods served in that capacity until his death, in 1901, in Indianapolis, Indiana
.
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....
.
Woods 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 Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
in 1859 and read law to enter the bar in 1861. He was in private practice in Goshen, Indiana
Goshen, Indiana
Goshen is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the northern...
from 1862 to 1867. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
from 1867 to 1869, returning to private practice in Goshen from 1870 to 1873. He was a judge on the 34th Judicial District of Indiana from 1874 to 1880, and then a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from 1881 to 1883.
On May 2, 1883, Woods 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 Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana. vacated by Walter Q. Gresham
Walter Q. Gresham
Walter Quintin Gresham was an American statesman and jurist. He served as United States Postmaster General, as a judge on the United States Courts of Appeals, was a two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and was Secretary of State, and Secretary of the Treasury...
. Formally nominated on December 18, 1883, Woods 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 January 7, 1884, and received his commission the same day.
On December 16, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
nominated Woods for elevation to a new seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
created by 26 Stat. 826. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1892, and received his commission the same day. Woods served in that capacity until his death, in 1901, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.