Charles Almon Dewey
Encyclopedia
Charles Almon Dewey was a United States federal judge
in Iowa's southern district
for over thirty years.
Born in Washington, Iowa
, Dewey attended Oberlin College
in Ohio. He was a Corporal in the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War
. In 1901, he received an LL.B. from State University of Iowa, and entered private practice in Washington, Iowa
. He was a City attorney of Washington from 1905 to 1909, and County attorney for Washington County, Iowa from 1909 to 1915. From 1918 to 1928, he served as a state district court judge in Iowa's sixth judicial district.
In 1927, a backlog of unresolved cases had developed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
. On January 19, 1928, President Calvin Coolidge
signed into law a bill that authorized the appointment of a second judge to the Southern District of Iowa, with the proviso that when the existing judgeship becomes vacant, it shall not be filled unless authorized by Congress. On January 23, 1928, President Coolidge nominated Dewey to this new seat. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 31, 1928, and received his commission the same day. After over twenty years of active service, he assumed senior status
on March 1, 1949. As a senior judge, he was given temporary assignments three times, sitting by designation in St. Louis, New York, and Miami. Dewey held senior status until he died in Des Moines, Iowa
, on March 2, 1958.
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....
in Iowa's southern district
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
for over thirty years.
Born in Washington, Iowa
Washington, Iowa
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,047 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Dewey attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio. He was a Corporal in the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. In 1901, he received an LL.B. from State University of Iowa, and entered private practice in Washington, Iowa
Washington, Iowa
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,047 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. He was a City attorney of Washington from 1905 to 1909, and County attorney for Washington County, Iowa from 1909 to 1915. From 1918 to 1928, he served as a state district court judge in Iowa's sixth judicial district.
In 1927, a backlog of unresolved cases had developed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
. On January 19, 1928, President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
signed into law a bill that authorized the appointment of a second judge to the Southern District of Iowa, with the proviso that when the existing judgeship becomes vacant, it shall not be filled unless authorized by Congress. On January 23, 1928, President Coolidge nominated Dewey to this new seat. He 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 January 31, 1928, and received his commission the same day. After over twenty years of active service, he assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 1, 1949. As a senior judge, he was given temporary assignments three times, sitting by designation in St. Louis, New York, and Miami. Dewey held senior status until he died in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, on March 2, 1958.