James F. Ailshie

James F. Ailshie (June 19, 1868 – May 27, 1947) was an associate justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, alternating as chief justice with other members of the court. First elected to the court in 1902, he became the youngest chief justice in the United States at the time. During his 24 years on the court, Ailshie wrote more than 700 opinions. At the time of his death, only one opinion in which he participated had been reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court.[1]

James F. Ailshie
Associate Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
In office 1903 – 1914 (resigned)
Preceded by	Ralph P. Quarles (1903)
Succeeded by	Warren Truitt (1914)
Associate Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
In office 1935–1947
Preceded by	N. D. Wernette
Succeeded by	Paul W. Hyatt
Personal details
Born	June 19, 1868 Green County, Tennessee U.S.
Died	May 27, 1947 (aged 78) Boise, Idaho
Resting place	Cloverdale Memorial Park, Boise 43.616114°N 116.333311°W
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lucie Bundren
Children	Lucile McHarg, James F. Ailshie, Jr., William Ailshie, Robert Ailshie
Mother	Martha (Knight) Ailshie
Father	George W. Ailshie
Residence	Grangeville, Idaho; Coeur d'Alene; Boise
Education	Carson College, Willamette University (Ph.B.) (LL.B.)

Early life and education

James Franklin Ailshie was born June 19, 1868, in Green County, Tennessee, to parents George Washington Ailshie and Martha A. (Knight) Ailshie. The eldest of nine children, Ailshie attended public school in Greene County. He later attended Carson College in Jefferson City, leaving in his junior year. He briefly taught school in Hutton Valley, Missouri, and in 1888 he moved to Spokane, Washington, then to Rockford where he was a school principal.[2]

In 1889 Ailshie entered Willamette University, graduating in 1891 with a Ph.B. in philosophy and an LL.B. in law.[2] He was admitted to practice law in Oregon, but he settled in Grangeville, Idaho, opening his practice in August, 1891.[3]

Family

In 1894 Ailshie married Lucie Bundren of Jefferson City, Tennessee, and the marriage produced four children: Lucille (McHarg), James F. Ailshie, Jr., William Ailshie, and Robert Ailshie.[2] James F. Ailshie, Jr., served as a U.S. District Attorney in Idaho,[4] and Robert Ailshie was Idaho Attorney General at the time of his death in 1947.[5]

Career

Ailshie served as a regent of the University of Idaho 1893–1896. He was elected to the Idaho Supreme Court for a six-year term in 1902 and reelected in 1908. When Senator Weldon Brinton Heyburn died in 1912, Ailshie ran unsuccessfully in 1913 for the seat, then filled by Kirtland I. Perky, but he lost the race to James H. Brady. Ailshie resigned his seat on the Idaho Supreme Court in 1914, a few months before his term expired. That year Ailshie moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and resumed his law practice. He served as vice president of the American Bar Association in 1934.[1]

In 1935 Ailshie again was elected to the Idaho Supreme Court,[6] and he was reelected in 1941.[1] Over the course of his career, he served five separate stints as Chief Justice, from 1903 to 1904, 1907 to 1908, 1913 to 1914, 1939 to 1941, and 1945 to 1946.

Death

Ailshie became ill in May, 1947.[7] He died in Boise May 27, 1947.

After his death, wife Lucie Ailshie died in November, 1947,[8] as did the Ailshies' son, Robert Ailshie.[5]

See also

• List of justices of the Idaho Supreme Court

Further reading

• Idaho Chief Justice, Businessman, and Educator James F. Ailshie, South Fork Companion, June 19, 2018

References

1. "Supreme Court Justice Ailshie Dies in Boise". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. May 28, 1947. p. 1.
2. James H. Hawley (1920). "History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains". S.J. Clarke. p. 228. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
3. Hiram T. French (1899). An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho. Lewis Publishing Co. p. 318. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
4. "Boise Lawyer Dies Suddenly". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. April 11, 1938. p. 1.
5. "Idaho Attorney-General Robert Ailshie Succumbs". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. November 17, 1947. p. 1.
6. "Ailshie to Become New Chief Justice". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. December 7, 1938. p. 6.
7. "Judge Ailshie Condition Said Increasingly Grave". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. May 27, 1947. p. 16.
8. "Mrs. Lucie B. Ailshie Dies". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. November 9, 1947. p. 1.