Joseph Buffington
Encyclopedia
Joseph Buffington was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania
to Ephraim and Margaret Chambers (Orr) Buffington, and nephew to a well-known Pennsylvania judge of the same name
, Buffington received an A.B.
from Trinity College
in Hartford, Connecticut
in 1875. He returned to Kittanning and read law in 1878, and then worked as a lawyer
in private practice until 1892. On January 29, 1885, he married Mary Alice Simonton, of Emmitsburg, Maryland.
On February 10, 1892, President
Benjamin Harrison
nominated Buffington as a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
in Pittsburgh, to a seat vacated by James H. Reed. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 23, 1892, and received commission the same day. He served on that court for nearly fifteen years. Then on September 25, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt
promoted Buffington to an appellate judgeship on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
, filling a seat vacated by Marcus Wilson Acheson
. The promotion was a recess appointment
; Buffington was formally confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received commission the same day. He was the most senior judge on the court for many years and presided over its sessions.
During the 1930s, Buffington became involved in a scandal involving his colleague on the Court of Appeals, Judge John Warren Davis
. Buffington was found to have been signing opinions drafted by Davis, in cases in which Davis received bribes. Davis was forced out of office, but no formal action was taken against Buffington, who was described as being "aged, senile, and nearly blind" by that time. He took what is now called senior status
, a form of semi-retirement, on June 1, 1938, and ceased hearing cases. He died in Pittsburgh on October 21, 1947.
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 Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning is a borough and the county seat of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is situated northeast of Pittsburgh, along the east bank of the Allegheny River. The name means "at the great stream" in the Delaware language...
to Ephraim and Margaret Chambers (Orr) Buffington, and nephew to a well-known Pennsylvania judge of the same name
Joseph Buffington (congressman)
Joseph Buffington was a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Joseph Buffington was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools and Western University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He moved to Butler County, Pennsylvania, and edited a weekly...
, Buffington 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 Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
in 1875. He returned to Kittanning and read law in 1878, and then worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in private practice until 1892. On January 29, 1885, he married Mary Alice Simonton, of Emmitsburg, Maryland.
On February 10, 1892, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
nominated Buffington as a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. The Honorable Judge Gary L. Lancaster is currently Chief Judge of the Western Pennsylvania District...
in Pittsburgh, to a seat vacated by James H. Reed. He 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 23, 1892, and received commission the same day. He served on that court for nearly fifteen years. Then on September 25, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
promoted Buffington to an appellate judgeship on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
, filling a seat vacated by Marcus Wilson Acheson
Marcus Wilson Acheson
Marcus Wilson Acheson was a United States federal judge.Acheson was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. from Washington College in 1845. He read law, and was thereafter in private practice of law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1880.Acheson was nominated by President...
. The promotion was 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...
; Buffington was formally confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received commission the same day. He was the most senior judge on the court for many years and presided over its sessions.
During the 1930s, Buffington became involved in a scandal involving his colleague on the Court of Appeals, Judge John Warren Davis
John Warren Davis
John Warren Davis was a New Jersey politician and federal judge.-Early life and education:...
. Buffington was found to have been signing opinions drafted by Davis, in cases in which Davis received bribes. Davis was forced out of office, but no formal action was taken against Buffington, who was described as being "aged, senile, and nearly blind" by that time. He took what is now called senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
, a form of semi-retirement, on June 1, 1938, and ceased hearing cases. He died in Pittsburgh on October 21, 1947.