William F. Turner
Encyclopedia
William F. Turner was the first Chief Justice
of the Territory of Arizona, serving in that capacity for about 7 years. He presided over the Territorial Supreme Court of Arizona.
. He attended Kenyon College
. At the time of his appointment, he was practicing law in Keokuk, Iowa
.
was appointed the Chief Justice and William T. Howell and Joseph P. Allyn
became the first Associate Justices. However, Gurley and Goodwin never held those offices, as Gurley died suddenly of appendicitis
before he left for Arizona in August of that year, and Goodwin was appointed Governor in his place. Turner himself had initially lobbied President Abraham Lincoln
for the appointment to Arizona's governorship, but instead received the post of Chief Justice after it was left empty by Goodwin's promotion. Charles Poston called him "Senator Grymes' man" and claimed he had been appointed due to the influence of his fellow Iowan, Senator James W. Grimes
. Turner and Goodwin were both appointed on an interim basis until the Senate returned from recess in January 1864 to confirm them.
He was assigned to the Third Judicial District, which comprised Yavapai County, and held court in Prescott, Arizona
.
Turner was reappointed for a second term in 1868, by President Ulysses Grant.
from April 1864 to November 1865, before his reappointment to a second term, and had also left in 1869 to lobby Washington for the governorship of Arizona. John S. Goff considers Turner to have been an able judge and attributes his removal to politics; he had been in conflict with the ruling "Federal" clique of state officials at the time. The Supreme Court, which met annually, did not convene for more than two years between November 1868 and January 1871 because of the deadlock. A December 1869 petition sent to President Grant advocating for his removal included former governors Goodwin and Richard Cunningham McCormick
, and Anson Safford, the newly-appointed governor to whom Turner had lost in his bid for that post.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Territory of Arizona, serving in that capacity for about 7 years. He presided over the Territorial Supreme Court of Arizona.
Early life
Turner was born in Pennsylvania, and lived for some time in Mount Vernon, OhioMount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
. He attended Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
. At the time of his appointment, he was practicing law in Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
.
Appointment
Turner was actually the last of new territory's three initial federal judges to receive his appointment, and the second appointed to that position. Arizona's first officers were appointed on March 6, 1863, and the new governor was to be John Addison Gurley. John Noble GoodwinJohn Noble Goodwin
John Noble Goodwin was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory...
was appointed the Chief Justice and William T. Howell and Joseph P. Allyn
Joseph P. Allyn
Joseph Pratt Allyn was an American jurist and journalist who served as one of the original Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Arizona Territory.-Background:...
became the first Associate Justices. However, Gurley and Goodwin never held those offices, as Gurley died suddenly of appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
before he left for Arizona in August of that year, and Goodwin was appointed Governor in his place. Turner himself had initially lobbied President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
for the appointment to Arizona's governorship, but instead received the post of Chief Justice after it was left empty by Goodwin's promotion. Charles Poston called him "Senator Grymes' man" and claimed he had been appointed due to the influence of his fellow Iowan, Senator James W. Grimes
James W. Grimes
James Wilson Grimes was an American politician, serving as the third Governor of Iowa and a United States Senator from Iowa.-Biography:...
. Turner and Goodwin were both appointed on an interim basis until the Senate returned from recess in January 1864 to confirm them.
He was assigned to the Third Judicial District, which comprised Yavapai County, and held court in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
.
Turner was reappointed for a second term in 1868, by President Ulysses Grant.
Removal from office
In 1870, Turner was removed from office without finishing his term by President Grant, who had appointed him. Political opponents accused him of excessive absences and other misconduct. He had taken a lengthy leave of absenceLeave of absence
Leave of absence is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job, while maintaining the status of employee...
from April 1864 to November 1865, before his reappointment to a second term, and had also left in 1869 to lobby Washington for the governorship of Arizona. John S. Goff considers Turner to have been an able judge and attributes his removal to politics; he had been in conflict with the ruling "Federal" clique of state officials at the time. The Supreme Court, which met annually, did not convene for more than two years between November 1868 and January 1871 because of the deadlock. A December 1869 petition sent to President Grant advocating for his removal included former governors Goodwin and Richard Cunningham McCormick
Richard Cunningham McCormick
Richard Cunningham McCormick, Jr. was an American politician, businessman, and journalist. He served as the second Governor of Arizona Territory, three time Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona Territory, and as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York...
, and Anson Safford, the newly-appointed governor to whom Turner had lost in his bid for that post.