Wallace Samuel Gourley
Encyclopedia
Wallace Samuel Gourley was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Wellsville, Ohio
, Gourley received an LL.B. from Ohio State University College of Law in 1929. He was in private practice in Washington, Pennsylvania
from 1929 to 1936. He was an Investigator, Retail Credit Company, Washington, Pennsylvania from 1929 to 1936. He was a First assistant district attorney of Washington County, Pennsylvania from 1936 to 1944. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
from 1941 to 1945.
Gourley was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
. Gourley was nominated by President Harry S. Truman
on November 2, 1945, to a seat vacated by Frederic P. Schoonmaker. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on November 20, 1945, and received his commission on November 29, 1945. He served as chief judge from 1951 to 1969. He assumed senior status
on August 4, 1969. Gourley served in that capacity until September 23, 1976, due to his death.
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 Wellsville, Ohio
Wellsville, Ohio
Wellsville is a village in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 4,133 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Gourley received an LL.B. from Ohio State University College of Law in 1929. He was in private practice in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
from 1929 to 1936. He was an Investigator, Retail Credit Company, Washington, Pennsylvania from 1929 to 1936. He was a First assistant district attorney of Washington County, Pennsylvania from 1936 to 1944. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
from 1941 to 1945.
Gourley was a federal judge on 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...
. Gourley was nominated by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
on November 2, 1945, to a seat vacated by Frederic P. Schoonmaker. 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 November 20, 1945, and received his commission on November 29, 1945. He served as chief judge from 1951 to 1969. 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 August 4, 1969. Gourley served in that capacity until September 23, 1976, due to his death.