John Francis O'Brien was an American lawyer and politician.

Life

He was the son of New York State Attorney General

New York State Attorney General

The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...

 Denis O'Brien

Denis O'Brien (New York Politician)

Denis O'Brien was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was admitted to the bar in 1861, and commenced practice in Watertown...

. He graduated from Georgetown College (now part of Georgetown University

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...

) in 1896, and from New York Law School

New York Law School

New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...

 in 1898. He served as Assistant Corporation Council of New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. After Benjamin N. Cardozo

Benjamin N. Cardozo

Benjamin Nathan Cardozo was a well-known American lawyer and associate Supreme Court Justice. Cardozo is remembered for his significant influence on the development of American common law in the 20th century, in addition to his modesty, philosophy, and vivid prose style...

 took office as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals

Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals

Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals refers to the position of chief judge on the New York Court of Appeals.The chief judge supervises the seven-judge Court of Appeals...

 in January 1927, O'Brien was appointed a judge to fill the vacancy, and in November 1927

New York state election, 1927

The 1927 New York state election was held on November 8, 1927, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly. Besides, nine amendments to the New York Constitution were proposed.-History:...

 was elected to a fourteen-year term. Ill health compelled him to tender his resignation on December 7, effective December 31, 1939. He died on December 25, before the resignation could take effect, but already on December 22 Albert Conway

Albert Conway

Albert Conway was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1955 to 1959.-Life:...

 was appointed by Governor Herbert Lehman to fill the vacancy temporarily, to take office on January 1, 1940.

Portrait

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/portraits/obrien_john_large.jpg at Historical Society of the Courts of New York State

Sources

• http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/bios/obrien_john.htm Bio at Court History
• http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/elecbook/thereshallbe/pg108.htm#149FN Election History of NYCoA at Court History
• http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/obrien5.html Political Graveyard