John Bruce (judge)
Encyclopedia
John Bruce was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, Bruce received an A.B.
from Franklin College
in 1854 and read law to enter the bar in 1856. He was in private practice in Keokuk, Iowa
from 1856 to 1862. He was in the United States Army
during the American Civil War
, from 1862 to 1865. He was a farmer in Prairie Bluff, Alabama
from 1866 to 1872, serving as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from 1872 to 1874.
On February 23, 1875, Bruce was nominated by President Ulysses Grant to a joint seat on three United States District Court
districts in Alabama, Northern
, Middle
, and Southern
, all vacated by Richard Busteed
. Bruce was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 27, 1875, and received his commission the same day. On August 2, 1886, Bruce was reassigned to preside over only the Northern and Middle Districts, continuing to serve in this capacity until his death, in 1901, in Walters Park, Pennsylvania.
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 Sterlingshire, Scotland, Bruce received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Franklin College
Franklin College
Franklin College is a private liberal arts college in Franklin, Indiana, located about 20 minutes south of Indianapolis. Its enrollment of 1047 students enables individual attention and discussions with senior professors...
in 1854 and read law to enter the bar in 1856. He was in private practice in Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
from 1856 to 1862. He was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, from 1862 to 1865. He was a farmer in Prairie Bluff, Alabama
Prairie Bluff, Alabama
Prairie Bluff, also known as Daletown and Prairie Blue, is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama.-History:Prairie Bluff first appeared on maps in 1819, the same year that Alabama was admitted to the Union as a state. It was listed erroneously as Prairie Blue on Fielding Lucas' Geographic,...
from 1866 to 1872, serving as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from 1872 to 1874.
On February 23, 1875, Bruce was nominated by President Ulysses Grant to a joint seat on three United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
districts in Alabama, Northern
United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, De Kalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar,...
, Middle
United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes,...
, and Southern
United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Washington, and Wilcox...
, all vacated by Richard Busteed
Richard Busteed
Richard Busteed was an attorney and soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a lawyer before and after the war, and also served as the U.S. District Judge of Alabama from 1863 – 1874. He became highly controversial in that position, and resigned to avoid...
. Bruce 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 27, 1875, and received his commission the same day. On August 2, 1886, Bruce was reassigned to preside over only the Northern and Middle Districts, continuing to serve in this capacity until his death, in 1901, in Walters Park, Pennsylvania.