Jackson Temple

Jackson Temple (August 11, 1827–December 25, 1902) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California. He served three separate terms on the court between 1870 and 1902.

Jackson Temple
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office January 7, 1895 – December 25, 1902
Appointed by	Direct election
Preceded by	William F. Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	William G. Lorigan
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office December 13, 1886 – June 25, 1889
Appointed by	Direct election
Preceded by	Erskine M. Ross
Succeeded by	Charles N. Fox
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office January 10, 1870 – January 1, 1872
Appointed by	Henry Huntly Haight
Preceded by	Silas Sanderson
Succeeded by	Addison Niles
Personal details
Born	August 11, 1827 Heath, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	December 25, 1902 (aged 75) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Christianna Hutton Hood ​ ​ (m. 1870)​
Alma mater	Williams College (B.A.) Yale University (LL.B.)

Early life and education

Temple was born in the town of Heath in Franklin County, Massachusetts on August 11, 1827, the son of a farmer.[1] In 1851, he graduated from Williams College.[2][3] Upon leaving college, Temple is reported to have gone to Newark, New Jersey, and commenced the study of the law in the office of Judge Ira C. Whitehead.[4] After a time he went to Freehold, in Monmouth County and taught school.[5] Afterwards, he continued his legal studies at Yale University, graduating in 1853.[5]

Legal and judicial career

In April 1853, Temple arrived in California, was admitted to the bar.[6] After practicing in San Francisco for a few months, he joined his two brothers on their ranch in Petaluma.[7] By 1855, Temple began practicing law in Sonoma County, including Mexican land grant litigation, and moved to Santa Rosa when the county seat relocated there. He practiced law with a series of partners: first, with William Ross; later, he joined with Charles P. Wilkins;[8][9] and then with A. Thomas. In September 1856, Temple was a delegate to the state Democratic Party convention.[10] In April 1859, he was admitted as an attorney and counselor by the Supreme Court of California by John Currey.[11][12] In October 1863, he ran unsuccessfully for state district court judge, losing to J. S. Southard.[13][14][15]

In September 1864, Temple was the Copperhead Democratic candidate for United States Congress from the Third congressional district, but was defeated by John Bidwell.[16][17]

In 1867, when Henry H. Haight planned to run for governor he persuaded Temple to come to San Francisco and take over his law office.[18]

First court term

In 1870, Justice Silas Sanderson resigned and Temple was appointed to the California Supreme Court by his friend, Governor Henry Huntly Haight.[19] In October 1871, Temple became the Democratic candidate to succeed himself but Republican Addison Niles was elected to fill the remainder of Sanderson's unexpired term, which lasted until the amendment of the California Constitution required elections for all seats in 1879.

In January 1872, Temple stepped down from the court and went back into private practice with Haight and Charles H. Sawyer in the San Francisco firm of Haight, Temple & Sawyer. By 1874, Temple had moved back to Santa Rosa.[20] In April 1876, Governor William Irwin appointed Temple as a judge of the 22nd District Court in Sonoma County.[21][22][23] After two years he was elected to succeed himself for a six-year term.[24][25][26] He served in this capacity until the superior courts came into existence under the Constitution of 1879, when he was elected a judge of the superior court for Sonoma County.[27] Among his notable cases on the trial bench is David D. Colton Estate v. Leland Stanford (1890).[28][29][30]

In 1882, Temple sought but did not obtain the Democratic nomination for Supreme Court. He ran instead on the Prohibition Party ticket, and lost the election to John Sharpstein and Erskine M. Ross.

Second court term

In October 1886, Temple was nominated by the Democratic Party, as well as the Grangers, and American Party, and elected to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy from the resignation of Ross.[31][19] Temple served two-and-a-half years on the court, from December 1886 until resigning in June 1889 due to poor health. He was replaced by the appointment of Charles N. Fox by Governor Robert Waterman.

Temple returned to private practice in Santa Rosa, opening a law firm with Judge John G. Pressley.[32] From March 1891 to 1894, Temple also served as a Supreme Court Commissioner.[33][34]

Third court term

In October 1894, Temple ran on the Democratic Party ticket and was elected as an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court for a 12-year term, which he was still serving at the time of his death.[35][36] At the same election, Frederick W. Henshaw also won a 12-year term, and the two jurists replaced departing justices John J. De Haven and William F. Fitzgerald.[37]

Temple died on Christmas Day, December 25, 1902, in San Francisco.[1]

Personal life

In June 1869, he married Christianna Hutton Hood at Rancho Los Guilicos in Santa Rosa.[38] They had six children and settled in Santa Rosa, California. She died on July 1, 1903, soon after his death.[39]

References

1. "Justice Jackson Temple Dies at McNutt Hospital". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. December 27, 1902. p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
2. Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Williams College. 1849. p. 10. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
3. Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Williams College. 1850. p. 8. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
4. Shaw, William H. (1884). History of Essex and Hudson Counties, New Jersey, Volume 1. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck. p. 245. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
5. Johnson, J. Edward (1963). History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1850-1900, vol I (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bender-Moss Co. pp. 115–117. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017. Entry for Jackson Temple
6. "Jackson Temple". Sonoma Democrat (52). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 10 October 1863. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
7. "Justice Jackson Temple" (PDF). New York Times. December 27, 1902. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
8. "County Affairs, District Court". Sonoma Democrat (3). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 October 1861. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
9. "Death of Judge Wilkins". Sonoma Democrat (43). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 August 1864. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
10. "Democratic State Convention, the Fourth Day". Sacramento Daily Union. 11 (1706). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 13 September 1856. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
11. "The Courts, Supreme Court". Sacramento Daily Union. 17 (2511). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 April 1859. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
12. "Admitted". Sonoma Democrat (29). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 May 1859. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
13. "Local and Miscellaneous, Judicial Nomination". Marin Journal. 3 (19). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 July 1863. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
14. "Personal". Marin Journal (3). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 October 1863. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
15. "State Judicial Election". Sacramento Daily Union. 26 (3932). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 October 1863. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
16. "Our San Francisco Dispatch, The Copperhead State Convention". Marysville Daily Appeal (61). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 September 1864. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
17. "Jackson Temple". Sonoma Democrat (48). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 10 September 1864. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
18. "Democrats, Arouse!". Sonoma Democrat (29). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 24 April 1869. p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017. Gov. Haight's residing in San Francisco and going into partnership with Jackson Temple. Gov. Haight purchased or rented a residence in Sacramento City, shortly after his election, and we believe resides there still. He was a partner of Mr, Temple before being chosen Governor.
19. "The Supreme Court, From Chief Justice Hastings to Chief Justice Beatty". San Francisco Call. 78 (22). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 June 1895. p. 5. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
20. "City News, Report of the Santa Rosa Public Library". Press Democrat (22). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 August 1890. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. The first election of officers took place Sept, 3, 1875. The following gentlemen were elected to the several offices to hold for one year from date: Jackson Temple, President.
21. "Judge Temple". Sonoma Democrat (25). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 April 1876. p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
22. "Doomed to the Scaffold". Sacramento Daily Union. 8 (112). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 18 July 1879. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
23. "Marin County, Official Directory". Marin Journal. 19 (17). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 July 1879. Retrieved August 10, 2017. Judge 22nd Judicial District...Jackson Temple
24. "For District Judge— Grain Burned- Christian College". Sacramento Daily Union. 3 (149). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 August 1877. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017. The Twenty-second District Democratic Convention met in this city yesterday, and nominated by acclamation for District Judge the Hon. Jackson Temple, the present incumbent.
25. "Democratic County Ticket". Healdsburg Enterprise (29). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 21 August 1879. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
26. "Workingmen's Nominations". Sacramento Daily Union. 8 (143). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 August 1879. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017. Superior Judges: Jackson Temple (D)
27. "Official Roster, County Officers". Sonoma Democrat (14). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 24 January 1880. p. 1. Retrieved August 10, 2017. Hon. Jackson Temple, Judge, Superior Court
28. David D. Colton Estate v. Leland Stanford (1890), 82 Cal. 351.
29. "The Colton-Stanford Case Ended". Press Democrat (176). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 February 1890. p. 2. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
30. "The Colton Suit". Daily Alta California. 82 (3). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 January 1890. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. The suit has been pending for about six years, and was originally tried before Judge Jackson Temple of Sonoma.
31. "The Democratic Ticket". Los Angeles Daily Herald. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. October 23, 1886. p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
32. "Local Brevities". Press Democrat (132). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 December 1890. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Judge Jackson Temple and Judge John G. Pressley will open a law office in the Farmer & Temple building.
33. "Supreme Court Commissioner". Daily Alta California. 84 (62). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 March 1891. p. 5. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
34. "Supreme Court Commissioner". Sacramento Daily Union. 81 (8). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 March 1891. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
35. "Estee Gaining". The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA). Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. November 8, 1894. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
36. "Judge Temple passes to rest". The Petaluma Argus. December 26, 1902. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
37. Shuck, Oscar Tully (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California: Being Biographies of Many Remarkable Men, a Store of Humorous and Pathetic Recollections, Accounts of Important Legislation and Extraordinary Cases, Comprehending the Judicial History of the State. Los Angeles, CA: Commercial Printing House. p. 353. Retrieved July 22, 2017. henshaw.
38. "Married". Marysville Daily Appeal (141). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 June 1869. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
39. "Entered Her Rest, Death of Mrs. Jackson Temple After a Long and Critical Illness". Press Democrat (219). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 July 1903. p. 3. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

External links

• Jackson Temple. California Supreme Court Historical Society.
• "Past and Present Justices". California State Courts. Retrieved July 10, 2017.

See also

• List of justices of the Supreme Court of California