John E. Richards

John Evan Richards (July 7, 1856 – June 25, 1932) was an American attorney who served as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from 1924 until 1932.[1]

John E. Richards
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
February 11, 1924 – June 25, 1932
Appointed byGovernor Friend Richardson
Preceded byFrank H. Kerrigan
Succeeded byIra F. Thompson
Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District
In office
October 6, 1913 – January 3, 1927
Appointed byGovernor Hiram Johnson
Preceded bySamuel P. Hall
Personal details
Born
John Evan Richards

(1856-07-07)July 7, 1856
San Jose, California, U.S.
DiedJune 25, 1932(1932-06-25) (aged 75)
Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Spouse
Mary Westphal
​
(m. 1881)​
Alma materUniversity of the Pacific (BA)
University of Michigan Law School (LLB)

Biography

Richards was born on July 7, 1856, to Richard Evan Richards and Mary Hamilton in San Jose, California, where he attended the public schools.[2][3] He obtained his undergraduate degree from University of the Pacific in 1877 and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1879.[2][4]

After graduation, Richards practiced law in San Francisco and San Jose with the firm of Moore, Lane & Leib, where future Justice William Langdon was later employed as a law clerk.[5] In January 1904, Richards was elected a trustee of the newly formed Santa Clara Bar Association.[6]

In September 1907, Governor James Gillett appointed Richards as judge of the Santa Clara Superior Court to fill the vacancy from the resignation due to age of Augustus Rhodes.[7][8][9]

In October 1913, Governor Hiram Johnson elevated Richards to the First District Court of Appeal, replacing Samuel P. Hall who died in office.[10] In October 1914, Richards won election to the remainder of Hall's unexpired term.[11][12] From 1913 to 1916, he lectured at Santa Clara University School of Law.

On February 11, 1924, Governor Friend Richardson appointed Richards as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court to fill the vacant seat of Frank H. Kerrigan.[2] In November 1924, Richards won election to the remainder of Kerrigan's unexpired term.[13] His last opinion, Parra v. Traeger (1931)[14] was filed on December 31, 1931. He died in office on June 25, 1932.[2] Governor James Rolph appointed Ira F. Thompson to take the vacant seat.[15]

Honors and activities

Richards served as a trustee of the University of the Pacific, which in 1914 awarded him an honorary Master of Arts.[3] In 1924, the University of Michigan conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.[3] In his spare time, he wrote editorials, essays and poetry.[16][8]

Personal life

On November 3, 1881, Richards married Mary Westphal in San Jose, California. They had two sons: John P. Richards and Donald W. Richards.[3]

See also

References
  1. "California Supreme Court History". cschs.org. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. "Justice John Richards of State Court Passes Away". San Bernardino Sun. No. 38. California Digital Newspaper Collection. UPI. June 26, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  3. "John E. Richards In Memoriam" (PDF). 215 Cal. Rpts. 777. California Supreme Court Historical Society. 1932. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  4. George, Charles E. (1914). The Lawyer & Banker and Southern Bench & Bar Review, Volume 7. p. 306. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  5. "Mills Case Closed for the Plaintiff". San Francisco Call. Vol. 86, no. 128. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 6, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  6. "Lawyers Elect Their Officers". San Francisco Call. Vol. 95, no. 55. California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 24, 1904. p. 24. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  7. "Judge Richards Installed". San Francisco Call. No. 102. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 12, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  8. "John E. Richards". myweb.wvnet.edu. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  9. "Judge for Santa Clara". Sacramento Union. No. 14. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 7, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  10. "Richard's Selection for Appeal Bench is Given Approval". San Francisco Call. Vol. 114, no. 123. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 6, 1913. p. 5. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  11. "Judge John E. Richards". Mill Valley Record. No. 40. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 24, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  12. California Blue Book, Or State Roster. Sacramento, CA: State Printing Office. 1915. p. 436. Retrieved July 27, 2017. Election 1914, For the First District...John E. Richards was elected Associate Justice to fill out the unexpired term of Samuel P. Hall, deceased, to which he had been appointed by Governor Johnson on the death of Samuel P. Hall.
  13. Johnson, J. Edward (1966). History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1900-1950, vol 2 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bancroft-Whitney. pp. 92–98. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  14. Parra v. Traeger (1931) 214 Cal. 535.
  15. "Appointed to Supreme Court". Madera Tribune. No. 47. California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 28, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  16. "Books Received". San Francisco Call. Vol. 99, no. 38. California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 7, 1906. p. 27. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Idylls of Monterey and Other Verses, by John E. Richards
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