Eugene A. Tucker

Tucker was born on May 13, 1856, to Pliny T. and Delia Ann (Stone) Tucker in Homer, New York.[1] His family moved to Belvidere where the younger Tucker was educated in local schools. He also read law under a Wisconsin judge before graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1878.[2] Following graduation, Tucker worked briefly as a lawyer before moving to Humboldt, Nebraska in 1879.[3] Tucker married Alfaretta Bristol of Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. The union produced two children: George Eugene and Blanche May.[2]

In Nebraska, Tucker became involved in Republican politics. Active locally, he was a police judge, city clerk, city and county attorney before serving one term as mayor of Humboldt.[2] Tucker was a delegate to the 1900 Republican National Convention and was elected to the Nebraska State Senate.[4] Fraternally, Tucker was a member of the Knights of Pythias and served the group as a chancellor commander.[2]

President Theodore Roosevelt nominated Tucker to replace Justice George Russell Davis on February 11, 1905.[5] The nomination was based primarily upon a recommendation from United States Senator Elmer Burkett of Nebraska.[3] While he was nominated to serve in the first district, a reorganization of the court in March 1905 moved Tucker to the newly created fifth district.[6] He took his oath of office on April 1 with his court, which covered Gila and Graham counties, being located in Globe.[7]

Tucker wrote no opinions in the Arizona Reports as he did not hold office long enough to serve during a session of the territorial supreme court.[3] He did however serve during a session of his district court.[3] Shortly after he took the bench, the Department of Justice allegedly received a photograph showing the new justice smoking a cigar with his feet resting upon a bench while court was in session.[8] In August 1905, the justice department began an investigation and a variety of allegations were made against Tucker.[9][10] Unofficial reports indicate the investigation found sufficient evidence to recommend Tucker's removal.[11] Senator Burkett tried to intervene on Tucker's behalf. This allowed the judge to finish the court session that was underway at the time the justice department recommended his removal.[3] Tucker submitted his resignation on October 13, 1905.[12]

Tucker was admitted to the Arizona Territory bar on November 17, 1905.[13] He moved to Los Angeles,[2] an was admitted to the California bar on November 27, 1911.[14] In 1939, Tucker's wife died.[14] Tucker died at his home in Culver City, California on December 28, 1942.[1] He was the last Arizona Territorial Supreme Court justice to die and the oldest surviving member from the 1878 University of Wisconsin graduating class.[1]