John Knight (judge)
Encyclopedia
John Knight was an American lawyer and politician from New York
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
from 1925 to 1931, and was later a United States federal judge
.
, Wyoming County, New York
, Knight received an A.B.
from the University of Rochester
in 1893, and read law to enter the Bar in 1896. He was a town clerk in Arcade from 1892 to 1896. He was in private practice in Arcade from 1896 to 1900, and was a Referee in Bankruptcy
for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York from 1899 to 1904. He was a district attorney of Wyoming County, New York from 1904 to 1913.
From 1913 to 1916, Knight was a Republican member from Wyoming County of the New York State Assembly
. He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1917 to 1931, and was President pro tempore from 1925 to 1931. He was an alternate delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention
and a delegate to the 1928 Republican National Convention
.
On March 18, 1931, Knight received a recess appointment
from President Herbert Hoover
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
vacated by John R. Hazel
. Formally nominated on December 15, 1931, Knight was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 6, 1932, and received his commission on January 9, 1932. He served as chief judge from 1948 until his death in 1955.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
from 1925 to 1931, and was later a United States federal judge
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....
.
Life
Born in ArcadeArcade (town), New York
Arcade is a town in Wyoming County, New York, USA. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census.The Town of Arcade has within its borders a village also called Arcade. Arcade is in the southwest corner of Wyoming County.- History :...
, Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
, Knight 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 the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1893, and read law to enter the Bar in 1896. He was a town clerk in Arcade from 1892 to 1896. He was in private practice in Arcade from 1896 to 1900, and was a Referee in Bankruptcy
Referee in Bankruptcy
A Referee in Bankruptcy or Bankruptcy Referee is a federal official with quasi-judicial powers, appointed by a United States district court to administer bankruptcy proceedings...
for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York from 1899 to 1904. He was a district attorney of Wyoming County, New York from 1904 to 1913.
From 1913 to 1916, Knight was a Republican member from Wyoming County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1917 to 1931, and was President pro tempore from 1925 to 1931. He was an alternate delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention
1924 Republican National Convention
The 1924 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Auditorium from June 10 to June 12. For this convention the method of allocating delegates changed in order to reduce the overrepresentation of the South...
and a delegate to the 1928 Republican National Convention
1928 Republican National Convention
The 1928 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 12 to June 15, 1928....
.
On March 18, 1931, Knight 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 Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
The United States District Court for the Western District of New York is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises only a part of New York....
vacated by John R. Hazel
John R. Hazel
John Raymond Hazel was a United States jurist and politician, best known for administrating the swearing in ceremony of then Vice President Theodore Roosevelt as the 26th President of the United States...
. Formally nominated on December 15, 1931, Knight 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 6, 1932, and received his commission on January 9, 1932. He served as chief judge from 1948 until his death in 1955.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/knight.html Political Graveyard
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C10FE3E5E1B7A93C3AA1788D85F458385F9 Appointed to federal bench, in NYT on March 31, 1931 (subscription required)
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B16FE3B5E107B93C4A8178DD85F418585F9 Obit in NYT on June 16, 1955 (subscription required)
- Fenner-Broughton Family History: The Family of James Elory Fenner, 1844-1912, and Hester Adamantha (Broughton) Fenner, 1847-1922, of Crawford County, Pennsylvania by Jim Fenner (Closson Press, 1995)