John Warren Davis (judge)

John Warren Davis (March 4, 1867 – February 21, 1945) was a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and previously was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

John Warren Davis
Davis as seen in Scannell's New Jersey First Citizens: Biographies and Portraits of the Notable Living Men and Women of New Jersey
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office April 15, 1939 – November 24, 1941
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office June 2, 1920 – April 15, 1939
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Thomas Griffith Haight
Succeeded by	Charles Alvin Jones
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
In office May 15, 1916 – June 12, 1920
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Seat established by 39 Stat. 48
Succeeded by	Joseph Lamb Bodine
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
In office 1913–1916
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	John Beam Vreeland
Succeeded by	Charles Francis Lynch
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the Salem County district
In office 1912–1913
Preceded by	William Plummer Jr.
Succeeded by	Isaac S. Smick
Personal details
Born	John Warren Davis March 4, 1867 Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Died	February 21, 1945 (aged 77)
Residence	Princess Anne County, Virginia
Education	Bucknell University (BA) Crozer Theological Seminary (BD) University of Pennsylvania Law School (LLB)

Education and career

Born on March 4, 1867, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina,[1] Davis received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896 from Bucknell University, a Bachelor of Divinity in 1899 from Crozer Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Laws in 1906 from University of Pennsylvania Law School.[1] Subsequent to his graduation from Crozer Theological Seminary, Davis taught Hebrew and Greek at that institution for three years.[2] After leaving Crozer, Davis traveled, briefly studying at the University of Chicago and the University of Leipzig in the German Empire, before returning to attend the University of Pennsylvania Law School.[2] He entered private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey from 1907 to 1911.[1] He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from 1911 to 1913.[1] He was the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1913 to 1916.[3]

Federal judicial service

Davis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on May 6, 1916, to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, to a new seat authorized by 39 Stat. 48.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 15, 1916, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on June 12, 1920, due to his elevation to the Third Circuit.[1]

Davis was nominated by President Wilson on May 28, 1920, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated by Judge Thomas Griffith Haight.[1] He was confirmed by the Senate on June 2, 1920, and received his commission the same day.[1] He was a member of the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges (now the Judicial Conference of the United States) in 1938.[1] He assumed senior status on April 15, 1939, in response to the Fox scandal,[4] and was inactive during his entire period of senior service.[4] His service terminated on November 24, 1941, due to his resignation, thus relinquishing his lifetime salary to which he would otherwise have been entitled.[1]

Scandal, indictment and resignation

In March 1939, Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and defraud the United States, stemming from an allegation that he was bribed by the famous film producer William Fox.[4] Fox pleaded guilty on March 28, 1939, prompting Davis to step down from the bench two weeks thereafter.[4] Davis and a co-conspirator were tried twice by United States Attorney Francis Biddle, each trial resulting in a hung jury.[4]

Later career and death

In the late 1930s, Davis served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater Bucknell; in addition the Davis Gymnasium was named in his honour.[5] During his final years, Davis resided on his farm in Princess Anne County, Virginia.[4] Davis died on February 21, 1945.[1]

Personal

Davis married Marguerite Noble Gay on June 14, 1913, just two days after receiving his commission as United States Attorney.[6] He was survived by two sons.[4] Davis was predeceased by his daughter, who died in childbirth in 1943.[7]

References

1. John Warren Davis at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Scannell's New Jersey First Citizens: Biographies and Portraits of the Notable Living Men and Women of New Jersey, p. 118
3. U.S. Attorney's Office District of New Jersey, A Rich History of Service Archived 2008-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
4. John W. Davis Sr., Retired U.S. Judge, Obituary, The New York Times, February 22, 1945, p. 25
5. "Marts, Roberts & Davis". Bucknell University. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
6. Senator Davis Marries. Flowers and Congratulation Sent from the White House, The New York Times, June 15, 1913
7. Mrs. Roger S. Firestone; Daughter-in-Law of Late Rubber Manufacturer Dies Here at 28, The New York Times, December 2, 1943, p.27

Sources

• John Warren Davis at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.