Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg
Encyclopedia
Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg (August 22, 1889 – September 15, 1968) was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
, Schnackenberg attended local public schools before moving to Chicago, Illinois. There he worked as a stenographer and taught school for two years. He received an LL.B. from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1912 and began a private law practice in Chicago from 1912 to 1945. He represented the South Park Commissioners of Chicago from 1925 to 1930.
He ran successfully for the Illinois House of Representatives
as a Progressive
candidate from Cook County in 1912, but he lost reelection two years later. Elected to the House as a Republican in 1922, he served eleven consecutive terms and was named Speaker of the House for the 1941 and 1943 sessions. While in the post, Schnackenberg earned a reputation for fairness and impartiality. He repeatedly declined offers to run for mayor of Chicago, state's attorney, governor of Illinois, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1945 and 1951, Schnackenberg was elected as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
and served until 1954. On November 17, 1953, Schnackenberg received a recess appointment
from President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
vacated by Otto Kerner, Sr.
. Formally nominated on January 11, 1954, Schnackenberg was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 9, 1954, and received his commission the same day.
Schnackenberg was a key judge in reapportioning state Senate districts in 1965 to conform with the U.S Supreme Court's decision in Baker v. Carr
. He also declared a guilty verdict in the 1965 Sam Giancana
organized crime case despite receiving death threats, and he issued a restraining order on the Chicago Police Department
after they interfered with reporters during the 1968 Democratic National Convention
. Schnackenberg still sat on the bench when he died on September 15, 1968, at age 79.
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 Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Schnackenberg attended local public schools before moving to Chicago, Illinois. There he worked as a stenographer and taught school for two years. He received an LL.B. from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1912 and began a private law practice in Chicago from 1912 to 1945. He represented the South Park Commissioners of Chicago from 1925 to 1930.
He ran successfully for the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
as a Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
candidate from Cook County in 1912, but he lost reelection two years later. Elected to the House as a Republican in 1922, he served eleven consecutive terms and was named Speaker of the House for the 1941 and 1943 sessions. While in the post, Schnackenberg earned a reputation for fairness and impartiality. He repeatedly declined offers to run for mayor of Chicago, state's attorney, governor of Illinois, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1945 and 1951, Schnackenberg was elected as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
and served until 1954. On November 17, 1953, Schnackenberg received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
vacated by Otto Kerner, Sr.
Otto Kerner, Sr.
Otto Kerner, Sr. was a Democratic Illinois Attorney General and a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. His son, Otto Kerner, Jr., was twice elected Democratic governor of Illinois, serving from 1961 to 1968 and also served as a judge on the Seventh Circuit, from...
. Formally nominated on January 11, 1954, Schnackenberg 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 February 9, 1954, and received his commission the same day.
Schnackenberg was a key judge in reapportioning state Senate districts in 1965 to conform with the U.S Supreme Court's decision in Baker v. Carr
Baker v. Carr
Baker v. Carr, , was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that retreated from the Court's political question doctrine, deciding that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, thus enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide reapportionment cases...
. He also declared a guilty verdict in the 1965 Sam Giancana
Sam Giancana
Salvatore Giancana , better known as Sam Giancana, was a Sicilian-American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957-1966...
organized crime case despite receiving death threats, and he issued a restraining order on the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
after they interfered with reporters during the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
. Schnackenberg still sat on the bench when he died on September 15, 1968, at age 79.