Harry Innes
Encyclopedia
Harry Innes was the first United States federal judge
in Kentucky
.
Innes was born in Caroline County, Virginia
, the son of the Reverend Robert Innes and Catharine (Richards) Innes. Innes attended Donald Robertson's school and William and Mary College. Innes was married twice, first to Elizabeth Calloway, with whom he had four daughters: Sarah, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Ann. After his first wife's death he married Ann Shield, with whom he had a daughter named Maria, who eventually married John J. Crittenden
. The two also raised a daughter from her first marriage.
Innes was admitted to the bar in 1773, and worked briefly as a lawyer in Bedford County, Virginia
. He worked in a variety of government jobs from 1776 until 1782, as an administrator for the Lead and Powder Mines, Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia from 1776 to 1777, a land claims adjuster for Western Virginia from 1777 to 1780, and an escheator for Bedford County, Virginia from 1780 to 1782. In 1782, he was made an assistant judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature for the Kentucky District of Virginia. Innes' work as a judge still allowed him time to practice law, farm, and invest in real estate. He was also a trustee of Transylvania University
. Innes resigned as presiding judge in 1784 after he was appointed Attorney General
for the western district of Virginia, an office that he held from 1784 to 1789.
Innes was a member of eight of the ten conventions leading to the separation of Kentucky from Virginia, and was a vocal proponent of separation. He also served as president of the first electoral college which chose Kentucky's first Governor
and Lieutenant Governor
.
On September 24, 1789, President George Washington
nominated Innes to be the first federal judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky, created by 1 Stat. 73, and at the time still a part of Virginia. Innes was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day.
After Kentucky separated from Virginia, Innes was selected to be chief judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
(then the state's highest court), but declined the appointment, remaining instead on the District Court. He was the only federal judge in Kentucky until the Judiciary Act of 1801 made what had been the Kentucky District Court a part of the new Sixth Circuit. In 1802 the Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed and Innes was once again the judge of the District of Kentucky. He remained in office until his death on September 20, 1816, in Frankfort, Kentucky
.
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 Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Innes was born in Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
, the son of the Reverend Robert Innes and Catharine (Richards) Innes. Innes attended Donald Robertson's school and William and Mary College. Innes was married twice, first to Elizabeth Calloway, with whom he had four daughters: Sarah, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Ann. After his first wife's death he married Ann Shield, with whom he had a daughter named Maria, who eventually married John J. Crittenden
John J. Crittenden
John Jordan Crittenden was a politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He represented the state in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and twice served as United States Attorney General in the administrations of William Henry Harrison and Millard Fillmore...
. The two also raised a daughter from her first marriage.
Innes was admitted to the bar in 1773, and worked briefly as a lawyer in Bedford County, Virginia
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
. He worked in a variety of government jobs from 1776 until 1782, as an administrator for the Lead and Powder Mines, Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia from 1776 to 1777, a land claims adjuster for Western Virginia from 1777 to 1780, and an escheator for Bedford County, Virginia from 1780 to 1782. In 1782, he was made an assistant judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature for the Kentucky District of Virginia. Innes' work as a judge still allowed him time to practice law, farm, and invest in real estate. He was also a trustee of Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
. Innes resigned as presiding judge in 1784 after he was appointed Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for the western district of Virginia, an office that he held from 1784 to 1789.
Innes was a member of eight of the ten conventions leading to the separation of Kentucky from Virginia, and was a vocal proponent of separation. He also served as president of the first electoral college which chose Kentucky's first Governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
.
On September 24, 1789, President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
nominated Innes to be the first federal judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky, created by 1 Stat. 73, and at the time still a part of Virginia. Innes 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 September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day.
After Kentucky separated from Virginia, Innes was selected to be chief judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
(then the state's highest court), but declined the appointment, remaining instead on the District Court. He was the only federal judge in Kentucky until the Judiciary Act of 1801 made what had been the Kentucky District Court a part of the new Sixth Circuit. In 1802 the Judiciary Act of 1801 was repealed and Innes was once again the judge of the District of Kentucky. He remained in office until his death on September 20, 1816, in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
.