Andrew T. Judson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Thompson Judson was a U.S. Representative
from Connecticut
and later a United States federal judge
.
Born in Eastford, Connecticut
, Judson's father, also named Andrew, was first pastor of the third church in Ashford
and the source of most of Judson's initial education. Judson then read law and was admitted to the bar
in 1806. He moved to Montpelier, Vermont
, where he began the practice of law. He returned to Connecticut and settled in Canterbury
in 1809, where he engaged in private practice until 1819.
Judson served as a Connecticut state representative in 1816. In 1818, he was one of the most active members of the Toleration Party
, which had for its object the separation of church and state
. After a severe struggle the Tolerationists, aided by the Democrats
, succeeded in setting aside the charter that was granted by Charles II
, and adopting a new constitution which has been the fundamental law of Connecticut
since that time. He served as state's attorney
for Windham County
1819 to 1833, and as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
1822 to 1825, and of the Connecticut Senate
from 1830 to 1832.
Judson was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress
and served from March 4, 1835, until July 4, 1836, when he resigned to take a judicial office. On June 28, 1836, Judson was nominated by President Andrew Jackson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
vacated by William Bristol
. Judson was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 4, 1836, and received his commission the same day. Judson served until his death in Canterbury, Connecticut
, March 17, 1853. He was interred in Hyde Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and later a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Eastford, Connecticut
Eastford, Connecticut
Eastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, Judson's father, also named Andrew, was first pastor of the third church in Ashford
Ashford, Connecticut
President George Washington, returning from his tour of the country in the fall of 1789, was chagrined to be involuntarily abandoned in the village on a Sunday...
and the source of most of Judson's initial education. Judson then read law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1806. He moved to Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, where he began the practice of law. He returned to Connecticut and settled in Canterbury
Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census.-History:The area was first settled in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck, consisting mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts and west of the Quinebaug River and the...
in 1809, where he engaged in private practice until 1819.
Judson served as a Connecticut state representative in 1816. In 1818, he was one of the most active members of the Toleration Party
Toleration Party
The Toleration Party was a political party active in Connecticut in the early 19th century...
, which had for its object the separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. After a severe struggle the Tolerationists, aided by the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, succeeded in setting aside the charter that was granted by Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and adopting a new constitution which has been the fundamental law of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
since that time. He served as state's attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
for Windham County
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
1819 to 1833, and as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
1822 to 1825, and of the Connecticut Senate
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
from 1830 to 1832.
Judson was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress
24th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress one House seat was added for each of the new states of Arkansas and Michigan.-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Martin Van Buren * President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :...
and served from March 4, 1835, until July 4, 1836, when he resigned to take a judicial office. On June 28, 1836, Judson was nominated by President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Connecticut. The court has offices in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven. Appeals from the court are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit...
vacated by William Bristol
William Bristol
William Bristol was a Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and United States federal judge.Born in Hamden, Connecticut, Bristol graduated from Yale University in 1798 and read law to enter the bar in 1800. He entered private practice in New Haven, Connecticut in 1800, and became U.S. Attorney for the...
. Judson was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 4, 1836, and received his commission the same day. Judson served until his death in Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census.-History:The area was first settled in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck, consisting mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts and west of the Quinebaug River and the...
, March 17, 1853. He was interred in Hyde Cemetery.