William G. Lorigan

William George Lorigan (February 12, 1855 – April 2, 1919) was an American attorney and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from January 7, 1903, to January 19, 1919.

William George Lorigan
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office January 7, 1903 – January 1, 1919
Preceded by	Jackson Temple
Succeeded by	Thomas J. Lennon
Personal details
Born	February 12, 1855 Melbourne, Australia
Died	April 2, 1919 (aged 64) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Annie Francis Burgiss ​ ​ (m. 1880)​
Alma mater	Santa Clara University

Biography

Lorigan was born on February 12, 1855, to Bartholomew W. Lorigan and Mary Moran in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2] In 1862, his family emigrated to California.[1] With his brother, Francis Lorigan, he studied at Jesuit-founded Santa Clara University.[3][4] He also studied at St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.[4]

After graduation, he read law at the firm of Moore, Laine, Delmas & Leib.[4] In 1879, he was admitted to the California bar.[4] Another brother, Charles M. Lorigan, also joined the bar and practiced in San Jose.[2][5] William Lorigan was elected twice to the position of city justice of San Jose, California.[1]

In 1890, Lorigan was elected judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.[6][7] He was re-elected in 1896 and 1902.[8]

On January 5, 1903, he was named as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court by appointment of Governor Henry Gage.[4] Lorigan's appointment filled the seat of Jackson Temple, who had died in office. In 1904, Lorigan won the election for the two-year remainder of Temple's unexpired term.[9][10][11][12] On November 6, 1906, Lorigan was nominated by the Republican Party and was re-elected to a 12-year term from January 1907 to January 1919.[13][14][15][16] In November 1918, he sought another term but rumors persisted about the fragility of his health,[17] and he was defeated in the election by Republican Thomas J. Lennon.[18][19][20]

On April 2, 1919, Lorigan died in San Francisco shortly after stepping down from the high court.[21]

Honors and awards

In May 1903, Lorigan received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Santa Clara University.[22]

Personal life

On February 14, 1880, he married Annie Francis Burgiss in San Jose, California.[23] They had a son, Barthol Lorigan, and daughter, Bergess Lorigan.[24][5]

See also

• List of justices of the Supreme Court of California

References

1. "Justice W. Lorigan is Taken by Death". Sacramento Union (34). California Digital Newspaper Collection. April 3, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
2. "Death of Mrs. Lorigan, Mother of the Santa Clara County Superior Judge Passes Away". San Francisco Call (84 (11)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. June 11, 1898. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017. The deceased came to America when 14 years of age, and with her parents settled in Ohio. After her marriage she and her husband went to Australia and returned to California in 1860.
3. "Grave Closes on Noted Jesuit". San Francisco Call (93 (168)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. May 17, 1903. p. 27. Retrieved July 28, 2017. The funeral of the Rev. Father Joseph Caredda, S. J., for nearly half a century a member of the faculty of Santa Clara College....The alumni was represented by Supreme Court Justice William G. Lorigan.
4. "Lorigan is Made Justice". San Francisco Call (93 (37)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 6, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
5. "Prominent San Jose Lawyer Weds". San Francisco Call (94 (157)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 4, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
6. "Superior Judges, Official Statement of the Vote Count". Sacramento Daily Union (80 (97)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 12, 1890. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Santa Clara: W. G. Lorigan 5,005 (votes)
7. "Leaky Jurors, Called Into Court by Judge Lorigan". Los Angeles Herald (25 (54)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 23, 1897. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
8. "Those Who Were Lucky. Superior Judges Who Were Elected Last Month". Sacramento Daily Union (92 (112)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 11, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Santa Clara —William G. Lorigan and M. EL Hyland.
9. "Contra Costa vs. Marin". San Francisco Call (95 (108)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. March 17, 1904. p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Jackson Temple (D.), who was elected for a term ending January, 1907, died December 26, 1902, and Governor Gage filled the vacancy on the bench by the appointment on January 5, 1903, of William G. Lorigan, who was then Judge of the Superior Court, Santa Clara County.
10. "The Supreme Court Vacancy". Sausalito News (20 (44)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 29, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court, a vacancy left by the expired term of Judge William G. Lorigan. To succeed himself on the Supreme Bench the incumbent is a candidate on the Republican ticket.
11. "Ticket Nominated at Santa Cruz by Republican Party". San Francisco Call (88). California Digital Newspaper Collection. August 27, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Justice of Supreme Court. William G. Lorigan, Santa Clara
12. "Registrar Completes the Count". San Francisco Call (96 (163)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 10, 1904. p. 5. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
13. "Completion of the Republican Ticket". Sacramento Union (15). California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 8, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
14. "Complete Republican State Ticket". Amador Ledger. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 14, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
15. "The New State Officers". Marin Journal (47 (45)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 15, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
16. "Answer to Queries". San Francisco Call (106 (55)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. July 25, 1909. p. 28. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
17. "Justice Lorigan May Resume Duties Soon, Jurist on Way to Recovery From Erysipelas". San Francisco Call (105 (179)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. May 28, 1909. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
18. "Lorigan Attack Boomerang". Sacramento Union (4). California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 4, 1918. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
19. "Santa Clara Bar Associate Indorses Lorigan for Re-election". Sausalito News (f34 (31)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. August 3, 1918. p. 5. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
20. "Needham Successor to Judge Langdon". Madera Weekly Tribune (41). California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 19, 1918. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
21. "Cal. Supreme Court Justice Is Dead". Los Angeles Herald (131). California Digital Newspaper Collection. April 3, 1919. p. 17. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
22. "Santa Clara College, Honorary Degrees Conferred at the Commencement Exercises". Los Angeles Herald (234). California Digital Newspaper Collection. May 29, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
23. "Funeral Services For Mrs. Lorigan Held in San Jose". Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar (4). California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 16, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
24. "Out-of_Town Personals". San Francisco Call (78 (45)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. July 15, 1895. p. 6. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Mountain Home, July 14: Judge and Mrs. W. G. Lorigan, Miss Bergess Lorigan, Master Barthol Lorigan

External links

• William G. Lorigan. California Supreme Court Historical Society.
• Superior Court of Santa Clara County.
• William G. Lorigan. Supreme Court biographies, MariposaResearch.net.
• Past & Present Justices. California Supreme Court.