Joseph William Woodrough
Encyclopedia
Joseph William Woodrough (August 29, 1873 – October 2, 1977) was a United States federal judge
, and was one of the longest-lived and longest-serving judges in the history of the United States judiciary.
Although he served as a federal judge for a record 61 years (45 active, 16 senior), others have performed judicial work at greater ages or for longer periods.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, Woodrough attended Heidelberg University, and read law to enter the Bar in 1893. He was a judge of the county court of Ward County, Texas from 1894 to 1896, serving as county attorney for Ward County in 1897. He was in private practice in Omaha, Nebraska
from 1898 to 1916.
On March 13, 1916, Woodrough was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
vacated by William H. Munger. Woodrough was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 31, 1916, and received his commission on April 3, 1916. Exactly seventeen years later, on April 3, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
nominated Woodrough for elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
, vacated by Arba Seymour Van Valkenburg. Woodrough was again confirmed by the United States Senate on April 12, 1933, receiving his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
on January 3, 1961, performing no judicial functions after taking part in a courthouse dedication later that year, but remaining a salaried Senior Circuit Judge until his death in 1977. He was the grandson of Joseph Woodrough, a sawmaker in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, and Agnes Moreman.
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....
, and was one of the longest-lived and longest-serving judges in the history of the United States judiciary.
Although he served as a federal judge for a record 61 years (45 active, 16 senior), others have performed judicial work at greater ages or for longer periods.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Woodrough attended Heidelberg University, and read law to enter the Bar in 1893. He was a judge of the county court of Ward County, Texas from 1894 to 1896, serving as county attorney for Ward County in 1897. He was in private practice in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
from 1898 to 1916.
On March 13, 1916, Woodrough was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Nebraska. Court offices are in Omaha, Lincoln, and North Platte....
vacated by William H. Munger. Woodrough 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 March 31, 1916, and received his commission on April 3, 1916. Exactly seventeen years later, on April 3, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
nominated Woodrough for elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
, vacated by Arba Seymour Van Valkenburg. Woodrough was again confirmed by the United States Senate on April 12, 1933, receiving his commission the same day. He assumed 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...
on January 3, 1961, performing no judicial functions after taking part in a courthouse dedication later that year, but remaining a salaried Senior Circuit Judge until his death in 1977. He was the grandson of Joseph Woodrough, a sawmaker in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, and Agnes Moreman.