William P. Lawlor

William Patrick Lawlor (September 17, 1854 – July 24, 1926) was an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from January 3, 1915, to July 25, 1926.

William P. Lawlor
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office
January 3, 1915 – July 25, 1926
Appointed byDirect election
Preceded byFrank M. Angellotti
Succeeded byJeremiah F. Sullivan
Judge of the San Francisco Superior Court
In office
December 16, 1898 – January 2, 1915
Appointed byGovernor James Budd
Preceded byRhodes Borden
Succeeded byFranklin A. Griffin
Personal details
Born(1854-09-17)September 17, 1854
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 24, 1926(1926-07-24) (aged 71)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocrat
Spouse
Mary Lee Henry
​
(m. 1913)​
Alma materUniversity of California, Hastings College of Law (no degree)
ProfessionAttorney, judge

Biography

Lawlor was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, on September 17, 1854, the son of Irish immigrants, Patrick Lawlor and Eliza Maher.[1] Orphaned by the time he was 10 years of age, he received three years of public education in New York before coming to live with his uncle in Paterson, New Jersey, after his parents' death.[2][1] In Paterson, he worked days as a bobbin boy in the textile factories, and attended night classes.[3] In 1877, Lawlor moved to California and worked in the silver mines in Napa.[4] In 1885, he moved to San Francisco and became involved in Democratic party politics.[2]

He was a member of the Bohemian Club and The Family club, as well as one of the five co-founders of The Commonwealth Club. He lived at 545 Powell Street, San Francisco.[4]

Beginning at age 30, Lawlor studied law at University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1885-1887,[5] and in the offices of Rhodes & Barstow and Dennis Spencer in San Francisco, California.[1][4] (Augustus L. Rhodes was chief justice of California from 1870 to 1872.) On December 16, 1898, Governor James Budd named Lawlor, then age 40, a judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court.[2][6][7][8][9] He was re-elected to the bench in 1900, 1906 and 1912.[1][10][11] As a Superior Court judge, Lawlor dismissed indictments in the San Francisco trolley bribery cases against Patrick Calhoun, Tirey L. Ford, Thornwell Mullally, and William M. Abbott, officials of the United Railroads.[12][13][14]

In 1910, Lawlor ran unsuccessfully against Republican candidate Henry A. Melvin for the California Supreme Court.[15] In 1914, Lawlor was elected an associate justice of the California Supreme Court, replacing Frank M. Angellotti who was elected chief justice.[16] Lawlor served in that position from January 3, 1915, until his death on July 25, 1926.[17][18][1] In 1922, Lawlor ran against Curtis D. Wilbur for the position of chief justice, but lost.[19]

Personal life

On November 25, 1913, Lawlor married Mary Lee Henry.[20][21] The couple had no children.

References
  1. Johnson, J. Edward (1966). History of Supreme Court, Vol 2, Justices, 1900-1950 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bancroft-Whitney Co. pp. 38–39. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. "William P. Lawlor Succeeds Borden". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 26, no. 81. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 December 1898. p. 6. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  3. "In Memoriam: William P. Lawlor" (PDF). California Supreme Court. 201 Cal. Rpts. February 6, 1928. pp. 775–780. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  4. Who's Who on the Pacific Coast (1913), page 338
  5. "Hastings Community". Hastings Alumni Publications. San Francisco, CA: Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association. 81: 22. Fall 1992. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  6. "Lawlor Recommissioned". San Francisco Call. Vol. 85, no. 36. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 January 1899. p. 12. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Governor Budd has Issued a second commission to William P. Lawlor, Judge of Department 11 of the Superior Court.
  7. "Funeral of Judge J. F. Breen". San Francisco Call. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 April 1899. p. 9. Retrieved July 6, 2017. The pall-bearers were Judge William P. Lawlor....
  8. "Judge William P. Lawlor's career upon the bench demonstrates that he should be kept there". San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 159. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 November 1900. p. 9. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  9. "Death of Miss Lawlor". San Francisco Call. Vol. 101, no. 135. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 14 April 1907. p. 38. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  10. "Eureka Valley Crowd Cheers Judge Lawlor". San Francisco Call. Vol. 112, no. 131. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 October 1912. p. 2. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  11. "Great Throng Boosts for Lawlor Campaign". San Francisco Call. Vol. 112, no. 120. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 September 1912. p. 10. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  12. "Trolley Bribe Indictments Quashed," New York Times, August 18, 1911.
  13. "No Jurors In Calhoun Case". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 36, no. 303. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 July 1909. p. 8.
  14. "Pat Calhoun's Second Trial to Begin Today, President of United Railroads to Face Jury Once More on Bribery Charge". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 36, no. 364. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 September 1909. p. 6. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  15. "Lawlor Candidate for State Supreme Bench". San Francisco Call. Vol. 107, no. 47. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 26 April 1910. p. 1. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  16. "Judge Lawlor Out for Associate Justice". Healdsburg Enterprise. No. 2. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 August 1914. p. 7. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  17. "Johnson Hands Out $51,000 State Jobs". Los Angeles Herald. No. 53. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 January 1915. p. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2017. vacancy on the superior bench caused by the election of William P. Lawlor to the court of appeals.
  18. "Cal. Supreme Court Is Opened in L A." Los Angeles Herald. No. 138. 11 April 1921. p. B1. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  19. "Certified List of Candidates for Nomination: Judicial Offices: Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court. William P. Lawlor". Mariposa Gazette. No. 14. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 26 August 1922. p. 3. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  20. "Judge Lawlor Will Be Married to Miss Mary Henry Tonight". San Francisco Call. Vol. 114, no. 166. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 25, 1913. p. 16. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  21. "Judge Lawlor Returns From His Wedding Trip". San Francisco Call. Vol. 114, no. 4. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 December 1913. p. 2. Retrieved July 6, 2017.

Selected publications

See also
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