William M. Maltbie
Encyclopedia
William Mills Maltbie was a lawyer, judge, and Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
.
Maltbie was the son of Theodore Mills Maltbie
(1842–1915), a prominent lawyer and politician who served three terms in the General Assembly and two in the state senate. William Maltbie was educated at Hartford Public High School
, Yale
(class of 1901), and Yale Law School
(class of 1905). On graduation he was admitted to the bar and joined his father's practice in Hartford
. He lived in Granby for all of his life, commuting to Hartford when necessary.
Maltbie served as one of Granby's representatives in the General Assembly in 1913. In 1914 he was appointed assistant state's attorney for Hartford County
, where he met Hugh M. Alcorn, the state's attorney, who became a lifelong friend. While still assistant state's attorney, Maltbie served as Governor Marcus H. Holcomb
's executive secretary from 1915-7. In 1917 Governor Holcomb appointed him to the Superior Court. In 1925 he was raised to the Connecticut Supreme Court (then officially called the "Supreme Court of Errors"); in 1930 he became Chief Justice. He held that position until 1950 when he reached the judicial retirement age of 70. Following his retirement from the bench he served as a state referee and conducted two one-man grand jury investigations, in 1951 and 1954.
Maltbie published two editions of Connecticut Appelate Procedure during his lifetime; he completed a supplement to it in the last years of his life and it was published posthumously.
Maltbie did extensive work with the Boy Scouts of America
(as a member of the national council), the YMCA
, the Probation Association, the Connecticut Prison Association (long-time president), the Connecticut Opera Association
(president), the Greater Hartford Federation of Churches (president), and other charitable and non-profit organizations.
He was awarded honorary degrees in law from many colleges and universities: Yale
(1933), Trinity College
(1934), Elon College (1941), Boston University
(1942), and the University of Hartford
(then "Hillyer College") (1955).
Maltbie married Mary L. Hamlin in 1917; their only son, Theodore Mills Maltbie, became a lawyer himself.
Connecticut Supreme Court
The Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
.
Maltbie was the son of Theodore Mills Maltbie
Theodore Mills Maltbie
Theodore Mills Maltbie was a lawyer and a member of both the Connecticut State Assembly and the Connecticut State Senate...
(1842–1915), a prominent lawyer and politician who served three terms in the General Assembly and two in the state senate. William Maltbie was educated at Hartford Public High School
Hartford Public High School
Hartford Public High School was founded in 1638. It is the second-oldest public secondary school in the United States , second to the Boston Latin School. It is a part of the Hartford Public Schools district.-History:...
, Yale
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...
(class of 1901), and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
(class of 1905). On graduation he was admitted to the bar and joined his father's practice in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. He lived in Granby for all of his life, commuting to Hartford when necessary.
Maltbie served as one of Granby's representatives in the General Assembly in 1913. In 1914 he was appointed assistant state's attorney for Hartford County
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, where he met Hugh M. Alcorn, the state's attorney, who became a lifelong friend. While still assistant state's attorney, Maltbie served as Governor Marcus H. Holcomb
Marcus H. Holcomb
Marcus H. Holcomb was an American politician and the 51st Governor of Connecticut.- Early life :Holcomb was born in New Hartford, Connecticut on November 28, 1844. He studied at public school system New Hartford. He then studied at Wesleyan Seminary in Massachusetts. Later he also studied law.-...
's executive secretary from 1915-7. In 1917 Governor Holcomb appointed him to the Superior Court. In 1925 he was raised to the Connecticut Supreme Court (then officially called the "Supreme Court of Errors"); in 1930 he became Chief Justice. He held that position until 1950 when he reached the judicial retirement age of 70. Following his retirement from the bench he served as a state referee and conducted two one-man grand jury investigations, in 1951 and 1954.
Maltbie published two editions of Connecticut Appelate Procedure during his lifetime; he completed a supplement to it in the last years of his life and it was published posthumously.
Maltbie did extensive work with the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(as a member of the national council), the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, the Probation Association, the Connecticut Prison Association (long-time president), the Connecticut Opera Association
Connecticut Opera
Connecticut Opera was a professional, non-profit, opera company based in Hartford, Connecticut, and a member of OPERA America. The company presented three fully staged opera productions during an annual season. It was founded in 1942 under the directorship of Frank Pandolfi and was the sixth oldest...
(president), the Greater Hartford Federation of Churches (president), and other charitable and non-profit organizations.
He was awarded honorary degrees in law from many colleges and universities: Yale
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...
(1933), Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
(1934), Elon College (1941), Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(1942), and the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
(then "Hillyer College") (1955).
Maltbie married Mary L. Hamlin in 1917; their only son, Theodore Mills Maltbie, became a lawyer himself.